Deaths among children in shock treated with fluids were caused by cardiovascular collapse

A detailed examination of a study which showed that giving fluids to children in shock increased the chances of them dying has found that their deaths were mostly caused by cardiovascular shock.

The Fluid Expansion as Supportive Therapy (FEAST) trial took place in six centres in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda in 2009-2011, and involved more than 3000 children with shock caused by conditions including sepsis and malaria. The trial excluded children with gastroenteritis, burns, and severe malnutrition. All the children were treated for their underlying illness and were …