Sepsis Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department, Inpatient and PICU
Sepsis Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department, Inpatient and PICU
Echocardiogram/Bedside US
Do not delay initiation of vasoactive therapy to obtain cardiac function assessment.
- Consider performing echocardiogram or bedside ultrasound to assess (as able) for:
- LV and RV qualitative systolic function
- Presence of pericardial effusion
- Volume responsiveness
- Severe RV dilation
- Views to obtain on bedside US:
- Parasternal long axis view
- Parasternal short axis view
- Apical 4 chamber view
- Subcostal view
- Transverse and longitudinal IVC views
- An IVC: aorta ratio of < 1.2:1 suggests volume depletion
- IVC diameter variability of > 50% in a non-intubated patient or > 15% in an intubated patient suggests the patient would be responsive to fluid
If systolic dysfunction present on bedside US, consult cardiology for expedited formal echo.