Echocardiography in Kids Intensive Care Decision Support - is Focused Echocardiography Superior to Pressure Derived Measurements at Predicting Fluid Responsiveness in Critically Ill Children?

A study to determine if echocardiographically derived parameters, plethysmographic variability index and pulse pressure variation predict fluid responsiveness in children on PICU. These parameters will be measured pre and post fluid bolus in children prescribed fluid bolus therapy for clinical indications on the PICU. Children will be classified as responders (>10% increase in cardiac output) and non responders (<10% increase). Appropriate statistical tests will be performed to determine the most useful predictor of an increase in cardiac output following a fluid bolus.