Neuroimaging and Neuromonitoring in Critically Ill Children With Sepsis

Inclusion Criteria:

• Admission to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
• Males or females ages ≥ 3.5 years and ≤ 18 years on day of sepsis recognition
• Meet published consensus criteria for severe sepsis or septic shock: a) ≥ 2 systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria, b) suspected (based on attending physician) or confirmed systemic infection, and c) ≥ 2 or more organ system dysfunctions (severe sepsis) or cardiovascular dysfunction (septic shock).
• An indwelling arterial catheter.
• Parental/guardian permission (informed consent).
• The patient and parent/guardian are fluent in English.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of neurologic disorder including (hypoxic ischemic injury, traumatic brain injury, epileptic encephalopathy, neurodevelopmental, neurometabolic or neurogenetic conditions, and structural brain anomalies).
• History of cancer or undergoing treatment for cancer.
• Meningitis or encephalitis as source of sepsis.
• Congenital heart disease.
• History of cardiac arrest.
• History of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) cannulation.
• Patients with contraindications to MR scanning.
• Pregnant or lactating females.
• Parents/guardians or subjects who, in the opinion of the Investigator, may be non-compliant with study schedules or procedures.
• Previous enrollment in this study.