Influence of fluid balance on the prognosis of patients with sepsis

Fluid balance, biomarkers of renal function and mortality in critically ill patients with AKI diagnosed before, or within 24 h of intensive care unit admission: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

To evaluate fluid balance, biomarkers of renal function and its relation to mortality in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) diagnosed before, or within 24 h of intensive care unit admission.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study considered 773 critically ill patients observed over six years. Pre-intensive care unit-onset AKI was defined as AKI diagnosed before, or within 24 h of intensive care unit admission. Body weight-adjusted fluid balance and fluid balance-adjusted biomarkers of renal function were measured daily for the first three days of intensive care unit admission. Primary outcome was mortality in the intensive care unit.

RESULTS

Prevalence of pre-intensive care unit-onset AKI was 55.1%, of which 55.6% of cases were hospital-acquired and 44.4% were community-acquired. Fluid balance was higher in AKI patients than in non-AKI patients (p < 0.001) and had a negative correlation with urine output (p < 0.01). Positive fluid balance and biomarkers of renal function were independently related to mortality. Multivariate analysis identified the following AKI-related variables associated with increased mortality: (1) In AKI patients: type 1 cardiorenal syndrome (OR 2.00), intra-abdominal hypertension (OR 1.71), AKI stage 3 (OR 2.15) and increase in AKI stage (OR 4.99); 2) In patients with community-acquired AKI: type 1 cardiorenal syndrome (OR 5.16), AKI stage 2 (OR 2.72), AKI stage 3 (OR 4.95) and renal replacement therapy (OR 3.05); and 3) In patients with hospital-acquired AKI: intra-abdominal hypertension (OR 2.31) and increase in AKI stage (OR 4.51).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with pre-intensive care unit-onset AKI, positive fluid balance is associated with worse renal outcomes. Positive fluid balance and decline in biomarkers of renal function are related to increased mortality, thus in this subpopulation of critically ill patients, positive fluid balance is not recommended and renal function must be closely monitored.

Early sepsis in Australia and New Zealand: A point-prevalence study of haemodynamic resuscitation practices

OBJECTIVE

Optimal resuscitation of sepsis-induced hypotension is uncertain, particularly the role of restrictive fluid strategies, leading to variability in usual practice. The objective of this study is to understand resuscitation practices in patients presenting to ED with early sepsis.

METHODS

Design, participants and setting: Prospective, observational, multicentre, single-day, point-prevalence study enrolling adult patients present in 51 Australian and New Zealand ICUs at 10.00 hours, 8 June 2021.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Site-level data on sepsis policies and patient-level demographic data, presence of sepsis and fluid and vasopressor administration in the first 24 h post-ED presentation.

RESULTS

A total of 722 patients were enrolled. ED was the ICU admission source for 222 of 722 patients (31.2%) and 78 of 222 patients (35%) met the criteria for sepsis within 24 h of ED presentation. Median age of the sepsis cohort was 61 (48-72) years, 58% were male and respiratory infection was the commonest cause (53.8%). The sepsis cohort had a higher severity of illness than the non-sepsis cohort (144/222 patients) and chronic immunocompromise was more common. Of 78 sepsis patients, 55 (71%) received ≥1 fluid boluses with 500 and 1000 mL boluses equally common (both 49%). In the first 24 h, 2335 (1409-3125) mL (25.3 [13.2-42.9] mL/kg) was administered. Vasopressors were administered in 53 of 78 patients (68%) and for 25 patients (47%) administration was peripheral.

CONCLUSIONS

ICU patients presenting to the ED with sepsis receive less fluids than current international recommendations and peripheral vasopressor administration is common. This finding supports the conduct of clinical trials evaluating optimal fluid dose and vasopressor timing for early sepsis-induced hypotension.

RESTRICTIVE FLUID RESUSCITATION IN SEPTIC SHOCK PATIENTS HAS LOWER MORTALITY AND ORGAN DYSFUNCTION RATES THAN STANDARD THERAPY

ABSTRACT

Background : The influence of restrictive fluid resuscitation and the early administration of vasopressors on the clinical outcomes in patients with septic shock are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of restrictive fluid management on mortality and organ dysfunction in patients with septic shock. Methods : This study included consecutive patients with septic shock in need of fluid resuscitation. Based on the fluid management provided in the initial resuscitation phase, a comparison was made between a restrictive group and a standard fluid management group. The primary outcome was in-hospital death, whereas secondary outcomes included organ dysfunction and other adverse events. Results : A total of 238 patients were included in this study. Restrictive fluid management was administered to 59.2% of patients, whereas 40.8% received standard fluid management. Restrictive resuscitation was associated with a lower in-hospital mortality rate (24.8% vs. 52.6%), as well as a shorter median intensive care unit stay (8.0 vs. 11.0 days). The restrictive strategy was associated with a significantly lower prevalence of new-onset acute kidney injury (25.5% vs. 51.5%) and a decrease in the incidence of renal replacement therapy (20.6% vs. 40.2%). The standard group had a higher risk of the need for mechanical ventilation and a significantly lower median number of days without a ventilator than the restrictive group. The median duration of vasopressor-free days in the restrictive group was significantly longer than that in the standard group (25.0 vs. 18.0). The administration rate of inotropes in the restrictive group was significantly lower than that in the standard group. A multivariate logistic regression model showed that restrictive fluid management (odds ratio [OR], 0.312; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.098-0.994) and vasopressor-free days (OR, 0.807; 95% CI, 0.765-0.851) protect against in-hospital death, whereas Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores (OR, 1.121; 95% CI, 1.018-1.234) were independent risk factors for in-hospital death. Conclusions : Restrictive fluid resuscitation and early vasopressor protocol in patients with septic shock are associated with better outcomes, indicating that this regimen is feasible and safe.

Prognostic value of Doppler waveform analysis of common femoral vein in septic patients: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To assess whether there is an association between abnormal common femoral vein (CFV) Doppler waveform and intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in patients with sepsis.

METHODS

Patients admitted to the ICU with sepsis were included. Pulsed-wave Doppler was performed by examining the CFV in the short axis without angle correction and in the long axis with angle correction. An abnormal CFV Doppler waveform was determined by a retrograde velocity peak (RVP) > 10 cm/s in the long axis or RVP > 50% of the antegrade velocity peak in the short axis. TAPSE < 17 mm was defined as right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. The primary outcome was ICU mortality.

RESULTS

One hundred and ten patients were included. There was no association between abnormal CFV Doppler waveforms in the long (p = 0.709) and short axes (p = 0.171) and ICU mortality. TAPSE measurements were performed in 16 patients. RV dysfunction was identified in 8 (50.0%) patients. There was no association between the diagnosis of RV dysfunction based on TAPSE measurement and the identification of abnormal CFV Doppler waveforms in the long axis (p = 1.000) and in the short axis (p = 1.000).

CONCLUSION

Abnormal CFV Doppler waveforms were not associated with ICU mortality in patients with sepsis. Furthermore, in the exploratory analysis, these alterations were not useful in identifying RV dysfunction in these patients.

Fluid Balance and Its Association With Mortality and Health-Related Quality of Life: A Nonprespecified Secondary Analysis of the Life After Pediatric Sepsis Evaluation

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the association between fluid balance (FB) and health-related quality of life (HRQL) among children at 1 month following community-acquired septic shock.

DESIGN

Nonprespecified secondary analysis of the Life After Pediatric Sepsis Evaluation. FB was defined as 100 × [(cumulative PICU fluid input - cumulative PICU fluid output)/PICU admission weight]. Three subgroups were identified: low FB (< 5%), medium FB (5%-15%), and high FB (> 15%) based on cumulative FB on days 0-3 of ICU stay. HRQL was measured at ICU admission and 1 month after using Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core or Infant Scales or the Stein-Jessop Functional Status Scale. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality or greater than 25% decline in HRQL 1 month after admission compared with baseline.

SETTING

Twelve academic PICUs in the United States.

PATIENTS

Critically ill children between 1 month and 18 years, with community-acquired septic shock who survived to at least day 4.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Two hundred ninety-three patients were included of whom 66 (23%) had low FB, 127 (43%) had medium FB, and 100 (34%) had high FB. There was no difference in Pediatric Risk of Mortality Score 3 (median 11 [6, 17]), age (median 5 [1, 12]), or gender (47% female) between FB groups. After adjusting for potential confounders and comparing with medium FB, higher odds of mortality or greater than 25% HRQL decline were seen in both the low FB (odds ratio [OR] 2.79 [1.20, 6.57]) and the high FB (OR 2.16 [1.06, 4.47]), p = 0.027. Compared with medium FB, low FB (OR 4.3 [1.62, 11.84]) and high FB (OR 3.29 [1.42, 8.00]) had higher odds of greater than 25% HRQL decline.

CONCLUSIONS

Over half of the children who survived septic shock had low or high FB, which was associated with a significant decline in HRQL scores. Prospective studies are needed to determine if optimization of FB can improve HRQL outcomes.

Sepsis-like Energy Deficit Is Not Sufficient to Induce Early Muscle Fiber Atrophy and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in a Murine Sepsis Model

Sepsis-induced myopathy is characterized by muscle fiber atrophy, mitochondrial dysfunction, and worsened outcomes. Whether whole-body energy deficit participates in the early alteration of skeletal muscle metabolism has never been investigated. Three groups were studied: “Sepsis” mice, fed ad libitum with a spontaneous decrease in caloric intake (n = 17), and “Sham” mice fed ad libitum (Sham fed (SF), n = 13) or subjected to pair-feeding (Sham pair fed (SPF), n = 12). Sepsis was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of cecal slurry in resuscitated C57BL6/J mice. The feeding of the SPF mice was restricted according to the food intake of the Sepsis mice. Energy balance was evaluated by indirect calorimetry over 24 h. The tibialis anterior cross-sectional area (TA CSA), mitochondrial function (high-resolution respirometry), and mitochondrial quality control pathways (RTqPCR and Western blot) were assessed 24 h after sepsis induction. The energy balance was positive in the SF group and negative in both the SPF and Sepsis groups. The TA CSA did not differ between the SF and SPF groups, but was reduced by 17% in the Sepsis group compared with the SPF group (p < 0.05). The complex-I-linked respiration in permeabilized soleus fibers was higher in the SPF group than the SF group (p < 0.05) and lower in the Sepsis group than the SPF group (p < 0.01). Pgc1α protein expression increased 3.9-fold in the SPF mice compared with the SF mice (p < 0.05) and remained unchanged in the Sepsis mice compared with the SPF mice; the Pgc1α mRNA expression decreased in the Sepsis compared with the SPF mice (p < 0.05). Thus, the sepsis-like energy deficit did not explain the early sepsis-induced muscle fiber atrophy and mitochondrial dysfunction, but led to specific metabolic adaptations not observed in sepsis.

Transfusion practice in patients receiving VV ECMO (PROTECMO): a prospective, multicentre, observational study

BACKGROUND

In patients receiving venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion thresholds are usually higher than in other patients who are critically ill. Available guidelines suggest a restrictive approach, but do not provide specific recommendations on the topic. The main aim of this study was, in a short timeframe, to describe the actual values of haemoglobin and the rate and the thresholds for transfusion of PRBC during VV ECMO.

METHODS

PROTECMO was a multicentre, prospective, cohort study done in 41 ECMO centres in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. Consecutive adult patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) who were receiving VV ECMO were eligible for inclusion. Patients younger than 18 years, those who were not able to provide informed consent when required, and patients with an ECMO stay of less than 24 h were excluded. Our main aim was to monitor the daily haemoglobin concentration and the value at the point of PRBC transfusion, as well as the rate of transfusions. The practice in different centres was stratified by continent location and case volume per year. Adjusted estimates were calculated using marginal structural models with inverse probability weighting, accounting for baseline and time varying confounding.

FINDINGS

Between Dec 1, 2018, and Feb 22, 2021, 604 patients were enrolled (431 [71%] men, 173 [29%] women; mean age 50 years [SD 13·6]; and mean haemoglobin concentration at cannulation 10·9 g/dL [2·4]). Over 7944 ECMO days, mean haemoglobin concentration was 9·1 g/dL (1·2), with lower concentrations in North America and high-volume centres. PRBC were transfused on 2432 (31%) of days on ECMO, and 504 (83%) patients received at least one PRBC unit. Overall, mean pretransfusion haemoglobin concentration was 8·1 g/dL (1·1), but varied according to the clinical rationale for transfusion. In a time-dependent Cox model, haemoglobin concentration of less than 7 g/dL was consistently associated with higher risk of death in the intensive care unit compared with other higher haemoglobin concentrations (hazard ratio [HR] 2·99 [95% CI 1·95-4·60]); PRBC transfusion was associated with lower risk of death only when transfused when haemoglobin concentration was less than 7 g/dL (HR 0·15 [0·03-0·74]), although no significant effect in reducing mortality was reported for transfusions for other haemoglobin classes (7·0-7·9 g/dL, 8·0-9·9 g/dL, or higher than 10 g/dL).

INTERPRETATION

During VV ECMO, there was no universally accepted threshold for transfusion, but PRBC transfusion was invariably associated with lower mortality only when done with haemoglobin concentration of less than 7 g/dL.

FUNDING

Extracorporeal Life Support Organization.

Association between fluid balance and mortality for heart failure and sepsis: a propensity score-matching analysis

BACKGROUND

Fluid resuscitation is necessary to correct the sepsis-induced hypoperfusion, which is contradictory to the treatment of heart failure. This study explored the association between fluid balance (FB) of the first 24 h after ICU admission and mortality in critically ill patients with heart failure and sepsis.

METHODS

Data were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database. The locally weighted scatterplot smoothing (Lowess) method was used to demonstrate the relationship between FB and in-hospital mortality. Groups were divided into high FB (≥ 55.85 ml/kg) and low FB (< 55.85 ml/kg) according to the cut-off value of FB using Receiver operating characteristic analysis and Youden index method. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Subgroup analyses, multivariable logistic regression analyses, and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to detect the association and survival difference between groups. Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) were performed to minimize the bias of confounding factors and facilitate the comparability between groups.

RESULTS

A total of 936 patients were included. The Lowess curve showed an approximate positive linear relationship for FB and in-hospital mortality. In the multivariable logistic regression adjusted model, high FB showed strong associations with in-hospital mortality (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.60-3.99, p < 0.001) as compared to the low FB group. In IPTW and PSM models, high FB consistently showed higher in-hospital mortality (IPTW model: OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.52-2.49, p < 0.001; PSM model: OR 2.93, 95% CI 1.75-4.90, p < 0.001) and 30-day mortality (IPTW model: OR 1.65, 95% CI 1.29-2.10, p < 0.001; PSM model: OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.51-4.15, p < 0.001), compared with the low FB group.

CONCLUSION

For critically ill patients with heart failure and sepsis, high FB within the first 24 h after ICU admission could serve as an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality and 30-day mortality. The avoidance of fluid overload exerts important effects on reducing mortality in such patients.