Apollo Children’s Hospital ICU Head published a study in the prestigious “Lancet” journal on “Haemodynamic Support for Paediatric Septic Shock: A Global Perspective”

Chennai, 6 July 2023:  A key Viewpoint article by Apollo Children’s Hospital ICU Head Dr Suchitra Ranjit and a team of international researchers was published in the reputed UK based journal The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health. The article was released on 22nd June 2023, to time with an important European PICU meeting in Greece.  

 

The study “Haemodynamic Support For Paediatric Septic Shock: A Global Perspective” is significant, as most international guidelines are written by Western experts and are more relevant to children in high income countries such as USA and Europe. They may not apply to Indian children, whose genetic profile, response to infection and therapy vary. However, this 4000-word viewpoint article by Dr Suchitra and the international team outlines the challenges relating to sepsis care for children in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where 80% of the world’s childhood sepsis cases are reported. It also calls for a more personalised approach for management of children with septic shock, particularly in LMICs. 

Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “I am delighted that Dr Suchitra’s work has been published by a top-class high-impact international journal with a strong clinical focus. As part of our culture of clinical excellence, we encourage our consultants to pursue cutting-edge research in vigorous environments. Collaborating with international experts and seeking recognition on esteemed platforms is critical to their professional growth. It also means we, as a leading healthcare brand, are engaging with consultants of high calibre, who are set to lead the way for their peers elsewhere with their experience and exposure.”

Speaking on her accomplishment, Dr Suchitra Ranjit, Chief Paediatric Intensivist, Apollo Children’s Hospital, said, “I am overwhelmed and overjoyed! It is rare for submissions by a lead author from India to be accepted by a journal as reputed as The Lancet! This is a fitting recognition of our 2 decades of clinical research on pediatric septic shock. My team and I believe that our research findings will immensely benefit not just clinical experts but also key policy makers, technical experts and other stakeholders, particularly with respect to children. Paediatric critical care is my passion, a subject close to my heart and I remain committed to pursuing more research projects in this domain in the years to come and enrich paediatric medical practice in India.”

Dr Suchitra has been heading the ICU at Apollo Children’s Hospital Chennai since 2004 and has conducted several studies among critically ill Indian children. These studies have uncovered greatly simplified treatment approaches, by emphasizing simple bedside monitoring techniques including repeated point-of-care ultrasound scanning. In recognition of her top-class research, she was elected to the Asian Board of Directors of the World Federation of Paediatric and Intensive Care Societies (WFPICCS) in 2020-2022. Some aspects of Dr Suchitra’s practice-changing publications have also been incorporated into the International Pediatric Septic Shock Guidelines, of which she is part of the international taskforce writing group. 

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