Background and aims Haemodynamic monitoring plays an important role in the management of critically ill patients. The goal of this study was to evaluate haemodynamic changes within first 48 h after initiation of mechanical ventilation (MV).

Methods Critically ill children were included and divided into two groups according to the indication for MV. Group A ventilated for pulmonary pathology (P), group B ventilated for non pulmonary pathology (NP). Noninvasive haemodynamic monitoring (USCOM) was used in both groups after the initiation of MV (Time 1) and at 6, 12 and 48 h intervals (Time 2, 3, 4). Parameters such as CI, SVRI, SVI, SBP and DBP were analysed. Strategies of protective MV were applied in both groups.

Results Group A included 36 children, mean age 44 months. Group B included 13 children, mean age 58 months. The comparisons within the groups and between the groups are presented in Table 1.

Conclusions SVRI increased during first 48 h of ventilation in NP group, SBP increased in both groups. No other clinically significant haemodynamic changes in either group were found.

Acknowledgements The work was supported by project PRVOUK P-36.