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This article is part of the supplement: 20th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine

Meeting abstract

Preload assessment in septic shock

A Donati, G Conti, S Loggi, S Falcetta, E Adrario, P Pelaia and P Pietropaoli

Author Affiliations

Istituto delle Emergenze Medico-Chirurgiche, Università di Ancona, Ospedale Regionale Torrette, via Conca, 60020 Torrette (Ancona), Italy

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Critical Care 2000, 4(Suppl 1):P18-S11 doi:10.1186/cc738


The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at:


Published:21 March 2000

© 2000 Current Science Ltd

Full text

Background

The accuracy of intra thoracic blood volume (ITBV) as a preload index, instead of central venous pressure and wedge pressure, has been demonstrated by Lichtwark-Ashoff in mechanically-ventilated patients with acute respiratory failure [1,2]. The aim of our work was: (1) to verify ITBV as a preload index in patients suffering from septic shock and (2) to relate measured data (CVP, WP, ITBV, extra vascular lung water [EVLW]), with PaO2/FiO2 ratio.

Methods

15 patients suffering from septic shock were studied. Admission criterion was septic shock refractory to standard therapy with cathecolamines. All patients were monitored with a Swan-Ganz catheter and Cold system (Pulsion, Münich) and received a bolus of methylene blue (MB) at the rate of 3 mg/Kg. Hemodynamic and oxyphoretic data were measured before MB infusion, and 20 min, 1 h and 2 h after the end of MB infusion, so that 4 sets of data for each patient were obtained to give a total of 60 data points.

Results

There is a significant correlation between ITBV and stroke volume (SV) and between ITBV and cardiac index (CI). There is also a correlation between ITBV and EVLW. No correlation was found between WP and SV and CI. Then we plotted WP vs the PaO2/FiO2 ratio and found that when the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was <200 there was no difference in EVLW between patients with WP ≤16 mmHg and patients with WP >16 mmHg. On the contrary, plotting ITBV vs PaO2/FiO2, with PaO2/FiO2 ratio>200, EVLW was very significantly higher (P<0.001) if ITBV was >1100 ml/mq, than if it was ≤1100 ml/mq.

Conclusions

In septic patients, when a respiratory failure happens, ITBV can be normal or high (>1100 ml/mq). A high ITBV is related to a high EVLW, while a high EVLW with a normal ITBV means a normal preload. In this case, it is not useful to decrease preload to increase the PaO2/FiO2 ratio. ITBV together with PaO2/FiO2 ratio is useful to optimize hemodynamic therapy during respiratory failure in septic patients and allows us to identify the patients that need diuretic therapy.

References

  1. Lichtwark-Ashoff M, et al.: .

    Intensive Care Med 1992, 18:142-147. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text OpenURL

  2. Lichtwark-Ashoff M, et al.: .

    J Crit Care 1996, 11:180-188. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text OpenURL