Cumulative Fluid Balance Research Articles

Positive Cumulative Fluids Balance Related to Mortality Events in Sepsis Patients Treated at Intensive Care Unit, Dr. Mohammad Hoesin General Hospital Palembang

Introduction. Sepsis is a syndrome that describes physiological dysfunction, pathological, and biochemistry caused by infection. Fluid balance is an indicator that can monitor input and output. This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between positive cumulative fluid balance and the mortality rate of sepsis patients treated in the intensive care unit.
 Method: This study design is a retrospective study. The inclusion criteria consist of patients diagnosed with sepsis written in the medical record, 18-65 years old, and patients admitted in intensive care unit dr Moh. Hoesin General Hospital. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 with the normality of data distribution, independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney analysis, chi-square, Fisher’s Exact to measure the relationship, and using Medcalc version 14 application to measure cut-off value, ROC curve AUC, cross-sectional point, sensitivity, and specificity.
 Result. The result showed that characteristic between age (p=0,491), gender (p=0,703) did not differ significantly between survived and non-survived patient. Length of stay (p=0,002), balance (p=0,000), and ward unit (p=0,014) has a significant different between survived and non survived patient. In chi square analysis, p value=0,000with odds ratio 7,083. Cut-off value of ROC curve is -97 mL with AUC 0,844, sensitivity 76,1% and specificity 79,3%.
 Conclusion. Cumulative positive balance patient in the sepsis patient correlates with increased mortality in a sepsis patient in Dr. Mohammad Hoesin General Hospital Palembang.

Association of Volume Status During Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation with Outcome.

Fluid overload in acute respiratory distress syndrome is associated with increased mortality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of cumulative fluid balance (CFB) during the first 7 days of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) and mortality. Adult patients on VV ECMO for greater than 168 hours, between November 2015 and October 2019, were included. CFB during the first 7 ECMO days was compared between survivors and nonsurvivors, and survival was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and cox proportional hazards modeling. One hundred forty-six patients were included. Median age was 45 years [32, 55], respiratory ECMO survival prediction score was 3 [0, 5], and P/F ratio was 70 [55, 85]. CFB for ECMO days 1-3 was +2,350 cc [-540, 5,941], days 4-7 -3,070 cc [-6,545, 437], and days 1-7 -341 cc [-4,579, 5,290]. One hundred seventeen patients (80%) survived to hospital discharge. Survivors were younger (41 years [31, 53] vs. 53 years [45, 60], p < 0.001) and had a higher respiratory ECMO survival prediction score, (3 [1, 5] vs. 1.5 [-1, 3], p = 0.002). VV ECMO survivors had a significantly more negative CFB during the first 7 days of VV ECMO (-1,311 cc [-4,755, 4,217] vs. 3,617 cc [-2,764, 9,413], p = 0.02), and CFB was an independent predictor of 90 day mortality (HR = 1.07 [1.01, 1.14], p = 0.02). Further studies are needed to determine the causal relationship between fluid balance and survival during VV ECMO.

Feasibility of conservative fluid administration and deresuscitation compared with usual care in critical illness: the Role of Active Deresuscitation After Resuscitation-2 (RADAR-2) randomised clinical trial.

Fluid overload is common in critical illness and is associated with mortality. This study investigated the feasibility of a randomised trial comparing conservative fluid administration and deresuscitation (active removal of accumulated fluid using diuretics or ultrafiltration) with usual care in critical illness. Open-label, parallel-group, allocation-concealed randomised clinical feasibility trial. Mechanically ventilated adult patients expected to require critical care beyond the next calendar day were enrolled between 24 and 48h following admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients were randomised to either a 2-stage fluid strategy comprising conservative fluid administration and, if fluid overload was present, active deresuscitation, or usual care. The primary endpoint was fluid balance in the 24h up to the start of study day 3. Secondary endpoints included cumulative fluid balance, mortality, and duration of mechanical ventilation. One hundred and eighty patients were randomised. After withdrawal of 1 patient, 89 patients assigned to the intervention were compared with 90 patients assigned to the usual care group. The mean plus standard deviation (SD) 24-h fluid balance up to study day 3 was lower in the intervention group (-840 ± 1746mL) than the usual care group (+ 130 ± 1401mL; P < 0.01). Cumulative fluid balance was lower in the intervention group at days 3 and 5. Overall, clinical outcomes did not differ significantly between the two groups, although the point estimate for 30-day mortality favoured the usual care group [intervention arm: 19 of 90 (21.6%) versus usual care: 14 of 89 (15.6%), P = 0.32]. Baseline imbalances between groups and lack of statistical power limit interpretation of clinical outcomes. A strategy of conservative fluid administration and active deresuscitation is feasible, reduces fluid balance compared with usual care, and may cause benefit or harm. In view of wide variations in contemporary clinical practice, large, adequately powered trials investigating the clinical effectiveness of conservative fluid strategies in critically ill patients are warranted.

Predicting successful continuous renal replacement therapy liberation in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury.

No standardized criteria for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) liberation have been established. We sought to develop and internally validate prediction models for successful CRRT liberation in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). This single-center, retrospective cohort study included adult patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) with AKI and treated with CRRT from January 1, 2007, to May 4, 2018, at a tertiary referral hospital. The cohort was randomly divided into derivation and validation sets. The outcomes were successful CRRT liberation, defined as renal replacement therapy (RRT)-free survival within 72 h after the liberation and hospital discharge. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed and internally validated. Of 1135 AKI patients requiring CRRT, successful CRRT liberation and RRT-free survival at hospital discharge were observed in 228 (20%) and 395 (35%) individuals, respectively. The independent predictors included mean hourly urine output within 12 h before liberation, mean serum creatinine value within 24 h before liberation, cumulative fluid balance from ICU admission to liberation, CRRT duration before liberation, and the requirement of vasoactive agents within 24 h before liberation. The models demonstrated good discrimination (AUROC, 0.76 and 0.78; positive predictive value, 36% and 48%; negative predictive value, 92% and 94%; respectively) and calibration in the validation set. These validated models could assist the decision-making related to the CRRT liberation in critically ill patients with AKI.

Intra-abdominal pressure during and after cardiac surgery: a single-centre prospective cohort study.

While intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) has been associated with adverse outcomes in multiple settings, the epidemiology and clinical implications of IAH in the context of cardiac surgery are less known. In this study, we aimed to describe the prevalence of IAH in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and determine its association with patient characteristics and postoperative outcomes. We conducted a single-centre prospective cohort study in which intra-abdominal pressure was measured in the operating room after general anesthesia (T1), after the surgical procedure (T2), and two hours after intensive care unit (ICU) admission (T3) in a subset of patients. Intra-abdominal hypertension was defined as intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) ≥ 12 mm Hg. Postoperative outcomes included death, acute kidney injury (AKI), and length of stay in the ICU and hospital. A total of 513 IAP measurements were obtained from 191 participants in the operating room and 131 participants in the ICU. Intra-abdominal hypertension was present in 105/191 (55%) at T1, 115/191 (60%) at T2, and 31/131 (24%) at T3. Intra-abdominal pressure was independently associated with body mass index, central venous pressure, and mean pulmonary artery pressure but was not associated with cumulative fluid balance. Intraoperative IAH was not associated with adverse outcomes including AKI. Intra-abdominal hypertension is very common during cardiac surgery but its clinical implications are uncertain.

Impact of Cumulative Fluid Balance During Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy on Mortality in Patients With Septic Acute Kidney Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background: The clinicians often use continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for the fluid management of patients with septic acute kidney injury (AKI). However, there is limited knowledge of the effects of changes in fluid balance (FB) on CRRT and its association with outcomes in patients with septic AKI.Objective: This study aimed to determine the association of cumulative FB (CFB) during treatment with 28-day all-cause mortality in the patients with septic AKI who require CRRT.Methods: This retrospective observational study examined patients who received CRRT due to septic AKI in a mixed intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary teaching hospital between January 2015 and December 2018. The patients were divided into three groups—negative FB, even FB, and positive FB—based on the CFB during CRRT. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality.Results: We examined 227 eligible patients and the mean age was 62.4 ± 18.3 years. The even FB group had a significantly lower 28-day mortality (43.0%, p = 0.007) than the positive FB group (72.7%) and the negative FB group (54.8%). The unadjusted and adjusted Cox regression models indicated that the positive FB group had an increased risk for 28-day all-cause mortality relative to the even FB group. A restricted cubic splines model indicated a J-shaped association between the CFB and 28-day all-cause mortality in the unadjusted model.Conclusion: Among the critically ill patients with septic AKI who require CRRT, those with positive FB had a higher mortality rate than those with even FB.

Positive fluid balance within the first 72 hours in the intensive care unit is associated with higher mortality in adult patients

Objective: To identify the association between cumulative fluid balance in the first 72 hours of ICU stay and outcomes. Methodology: retrospective observational cohort with data analysis of adult patients hospitalized in an ICU of a tertiary teaching hospital. Results: a total of 86 patients who remained in the ICU for more than 72 hours were evaluated. The fluid balance in the first 72 hours was higher in the subgroup of patients who died in the ICU (5210.3 ± 2787.7 vs. 3017.4 ± 2847.2 mL, p = 0.004). The fluid balance in the first 72 hours was an independent factor directly associated with death in the ICU (OR: 1,000; p = 0.009). The area under the ROC curve was 0.7119 (95% CI: 0.58-0.84, p = 0.005). The optimal cutoff point for the fluid balance in the first 72 hours as a predictor of death in the ICU was + 3.900mL and the relative risk of death among those who presented a fluid balance higher than this value was 1.702 (95% CI: 1, 15-2.53, p = 0.009). Conclusion: an association was identified between the cumulative value in the fluid balance in the first 72 hours of ICU stay and the highest risk of death, which is an independent factor of the patient's severity at admission.

Open Abdomen after Two Trauma Laparotomies: Do Diuretics Help?

Data are lacking regarding the use of diuretics in facilitating closure of the open abdomen (OA). For patients with an OA after 2 laparotomies, we hypothesized that diuretic use was associated with a higher rate of primary fascial closure than no diuretic use. A retrospective review of patients with trauma laparotomies over 7years was performed. Primary fascial closure (PFC) was defined as apposition of fascial edges without interposition mesh. Of 321 patients, 30 (9%) remained with an OA after 2 laparotomies. Prior to the third laparotomy, median cumulative fluid balance was +12.6 L. Thirteen (43%) received diuretics. Primary fascial closure rates were similar for diuretic use vs no diuretic (38% vs 59%, P = .46). Primary fascial closure was not associated with age (P = .2), gender (P = 0.7), cumulative fluid balance (P = .3), or units of packed cells (P = .4). Diuretic use in trauma patients with an OA after 2 laparotomies was not associated with successful PFC.

Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy among Patients with COVID-19 and Acute Kidney Injury

Background and Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication among patients with COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Reports suggest that COVID-19 confers a pro-thrombotic state, which presents challenges in maintaining hemofilter patency and delivering continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). We present our initial experience with CRRT in critically ill patients with COVID-19, emphasizing circuit patency and the association between fluid balance during CRRT and respiratory parameters. Design, Setting, Participants, and Measurements: Retrospective chart review of 32 consecutive patients with COVID-19 and AKI managed with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration with regional citrate anticoagulation (CVVHDF-RCA) according to the University of Michigan protocol. Primary outcome was mean CRRT circuit life per patient during the first 7 days of CRRT. We used simple linear regression to assess the relationship between patient characteristics and filter life. We also explored the relationship between fluid balance on CRRT and respiratory parameters using repeated measures modeling. Results: Patients’ mean age was 54.8 years and majority were Black (75%). Comorbidities included hypertension (90.6%), obesity (70.9%) diabetes (56.2%), and chronic kidney disease (40.6%). Median CRRT circuit life was 53.5 [interquartile range 39.1–77.6] hours. There was no association between circuit life and inflammatory or pro-thrombotic laboratory values (ferritin p = 0.92, C-reactive protein p = 0.29, D-dimer p = 0.24), or with systemic anticoagulation (p = 0.37). Net daily fluid removal during the first 7 days of CRRT was not associated with daily (closest recorded values to 20:00) PaO2/FIO2 ratio (p = 0.21) or positive end-expiratory pressure requirements (p = 0.47). Conclusions: We achieved adequate CRRT circuit life in COVID-19 patients using an established CVVHDF-RCA protocol. During the first 7 days of CRRT therapy, cumulative fluid balance was not associated with improvements in respiratory parameters, even after accounting for baseline fluid balance.

EVALUATION OF FLUID BALANCE IN ADULT PATIENTS WITH SEPSIS

TOPIC: Critical Care TYPE: Original Investigations PURPOSE: Fluid balance and fluid management are complex issues affected by multiple patient variables. Positive net fluid balance has been correlated with increased mortality in sepsis. This study evaluated net fluid balance in patients with a diagnosis of sepsis at an academic medical center. METHODS: This study was approved by the Creighton University Institutional Review Board. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 574 patients with sepsis who required >48 hours of ICU care in 2019. The primary outcome was mortality: secondary endpoints included SOFA score, ICU length of stay, site of infection, comorbidities, vasopressor use, and fluid balance at 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days in the ICU, and cumulative fluid balance at ICU discharge. RESULTS: 199 patients met our inclusion criteria and were further analyzed; 51 (25.6%) died. Increased age (OR=1.28 for each 10-year increase, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.62; P=0.042), increased SOFA scores (OR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.12 to 1.42; p<0.001), and pneumonia (OR=3.74, 95% CI: 1.63 to 8.60, P=0.002) were independent predictors of increased mortality. A higher net fluid balance at ICU discharge was associated with a statistically significant increase in mortality (OR=1.03 for each 500 mL increase, 95% CI: >1.00 to 1.05; P=0.022). Pneumonia was the source of sepsis in most patients (n=52, 26%). The relationship between fluid balance and mortality did not differ between pneumonia and non-pneumonia patients. CONCLUSIONS: The present retrospective analysis suggests that in patients diagnosed with sepsis a lower net fluid balance is associated with decreased mortality. Younger age and lower severity of illness were correlated with decreased mortality among patients with sepsis. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Our study affirms that a thoughtful approach to fluid resuscitation should be utilized in septic critically ill patients, which may include judicious fluid administration and diuretic strategies to further improve patient outcomes. In addition, the relationship between pneumonia and fluid balance may warrant a more in-depth investigation. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Sarah Aurit, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Khalid Bashir, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Daniel Hilleman, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Mark Malesker, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Lee Morrow, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Robert Plambeck, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Abaigeal Tarpey, source=Web Response

Respiratory and peripheral muscular ultrasound characteristics in ICU COVID 19 ARDS patients.

PurposeSevere cases of coronavirus disease 2019 develop ARDS requiring admission to the ICU. This study aimed to investigate the ultrasound characteristics of respiratory and peripheral muscles of patients affected by COVID19 who require mechanical ventilation.Materials and methodsThis is a prospective observational study. We performed muscle ultrasound at the admission of ICU in 32 intubated patients with ARDS COVID19. The ultrasound was comprehensive of thickness and echogenicity of both parasternal intercostal and diaphragm muscles, and cross-sectional area and echogenicity of the rectus femoris.ResultsPatients who survived showed a significantly lower echogenicity score as compared with those who did not survive for both parasternal intercostal muscles. Similarly, the diaphragmatic echogenicity was significantly different between alive or dead patients. There was a significant correlation between right parasternal intercostal or diaphragm echogenicity and the cumulative fluid balance and urine protein output. Similar results were detected for rectus femoris echogenicity.ConclusionsThe early changes detected by echogenicity ultrasound suggest a potential benefit of proactive early therapies designed to preserve respiratory and peripheral muscle architecture to reduce days on MV, although what constitutes a clinically significant change in muscle echogenicity remains unknown.

Association of Fluid Overload with Escalation of Respiratory Support and Endotracheal Intubation in Acute Bronchiolitis Patients.

Fluid overload has been associated with increased oxygen requirement, prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation, and longer length of hospital stay in children hospitalized with pulmonary diseases. Critically ill infants with bronchiolitis admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) also tend to develop fluid overload and there is limited information of its role on noninvasive respiratory support. Thus, our primary objective was to study the association of fluid overload in patients with bronchiolitis admitted to the PICU with respiratory support escalation (RSE) and need for endotracheal intubation (ETI). Infants ≤24 months of age with bronchiolitis and admitted to the PICU between 9/2009 and 6/2015 were retrospectively studied. Demographic variables, clinical characteristics including type of respiratory support and need for ETI were evaluated. Fluid overload as assessed by net fluid intake and output (net fluid balance), cumulative fluid balance (CFB) (mL/kg), and percentage fluid overload (FO%), was compared between patients requiring and not requiring RSE and among patients requiring ETI and not requiring ETI at 0 (PICU admission), 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours. One-hundred sixty four of 283 patients with bronchiolitis admitted to the PICU qualified for our study. Thirty-four of 164 (21%) patients required escalation of respiratory support within 5 days of PICU admission and of these 34 patients, 11 patients required ETI. Univariate analysis by Kruskal-Wallis test of fluid overload as assessed by net fluid balance, CFB, and FO% between 34 patients requiring and 130 patients not requiring RSE and among 11 patients requiring ETI and 153 patients not requiring ETI, at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours did not reveal any significant difference ( p >0.05) at any time interval. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed higher PRISM score (odds ratio [OR]: 4.95, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.79-13.66; p = 0.002), longer hours on high flow nasal cannula (OR: 4.86, 95% CI: 1.68-14.03; p = 0.003) and longer hours on noninvasive ventilation (OR: 11.16, 95% CI: 3.36-36.98; p < 0.001) were associated with RSE. Fluid overload as assessed by net fluid balance, CFB, and FO% was not associated with RSE or need for ETI in critically ill bronchiolitis patients admitted to the PICU. Further prospective studies involving larger number of patients with bronchiolitis are needed to corroborate our findings.

Early restrictive fluid balance is associated with lower hospital mortality independent of acute disease severity in critically ill patients on CRRT

Fluid overload (FO) with coincident acute kidney injury has been associated with increased mortality. However, it is unclear whether FO is an independent determinant of mortality for disease severity. We aimed to explore whether the development of fluid balance (FB) during the first 72 h of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is independently associated with hospital mortality. All patients admitted to a single centre ICU requiring CRRT for at least 24 h between years 2010–2019 were included. Extracted data included patient demographics and clinical parameters including daily cumulative fluid balance (FBcum), lactate, SOFA score and vasoactive requirement at the initiation and during the first 72 h of CRRT. 399 patients were included in the analysis. Hospital survivors had a significantly lower FBcum at CRRT initiation compared to non-survivors (median 1382 versus 3265 ml; p = 0.003). Hourly fluid balance per bodyweight (FBnet) was lower in survivors at 0–24, 24–48 and 48–72 h after initiation of CRRT (p < 0.008 for all comparisons). In the survival analysis (analyzed with counting process model) significant time-dependent explanatory variables for hospital mortality were FBnet (per ml/kg/h: HR: 1.319, 95% CI 1.038–1.677, p = 0.02), lactate (HR: 1.086, 95% CI 1.030–1.145, p = 0.002) and SOFA score (per ml/kg/h: HR: 1.084, 95% CI 1.025–1.146, p = 0.005) during the first 72 h of CRRT. Even after careful adjustment for repeated measures of disease severity, FBnet during the first 72 h of CRRT remains independently associated with hospital mortality, in critically ill patients with AKI.

Effect of Change in Body Weight on Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients.

BackgroundIntravenous fluid optimization is an essential component of managing patients in a critical care setting. A cumulative positive fluid balance is consistent with poor outcomes in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The overall utility of net cumulative fluid balance as a surrogate for assessing fluid overload has been interrogated.Materials and methodsThis study was a prospective single-center observational study, which was done to correlate body weight changes with fluid balance in ICU patients and evaluate its impact on clinical outcomes. Inclusion criteria consisted of adult patients who were admitted to the critical care unit on specialized beds with integrated weighing scales between September 2017 and December 2018. The evaluation of the effect of changes in body weight on ICU survival was the primary objective of the study.ResultsWe enrolled 105 patients in this study. The ICU mortality was 23.80% with non-survivors showing more weight gain than the survivors. Statistically significant weight gain was documented in the non-survivors on days 3 and 4 (1.9 vs 1.05; p = 0.0084 and 2.6 vs 1.6; p = 0.0030) of ICU admission. Non-survivors had greater cumulative positive fluid balance on fourth, fifth, and sixth days post-ICU admission when compared to survivors (3586 vs 1659 mL, p = 0.0322; 5418 vs 1255 mL, p = 0.0017; and 5430 vs 2305 mL p = 0.0264, respectively). In multivariate regression analysis, cumulative fluid balance did not correlate with days on mechanical ventilation or length of stay in ICU. Changes in body weight and cumulative fluid balance showed a good correlation.ConclusionIn patients admitted to the ICU, weight gain on third and fourth days of admission is concordant with increased ICU mortality. Body weight changes were seen to correlate well with the cumulative fluid balance.How to cite this articleMishra RK, Pande A, Ramachandran R, Trikha A, Singh PM, Rewari V. Effect of Change in Body Weight on Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(9):1042–1048.

Effectiveness of daily fluid balance charting versus body weight measurement as a guide for fluid administration therapy after cardiac surgery

Background: Several studies have established a link between fluid overload and an increased risk of death. After cardiac surgery, patients' fluid status should be assessed at close intervals. A daily fluid balance (FB) has several limitations. This study aims to determine the agreement and correlation between fluid status changes calculated by the daily fluid balance through the conventional charting approach and body weight (BW) change using beds equipped with weighing scales.&#x0D; Methods: This is a prospective observational study that included 50 patients who underwent cardiac surgeries. It evaluates the precision and usefulness of determining body fluid status and requirements using daily fluid balance and body weight measurements.&#x0D; Results: The mean age of the study group was 52.9 ±10.44 years. The mean weight, height, and BMI were 87.1 ± 16.68 Kg, 170.4 ± 4.59 cm, and 30.12 ± 6.21 kg/m2. The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 9.5 ±3.73 h. Mean ICU and hospitalization times were 2.4 ± 0.67 and 6.3 ± 1.36 days, respectively. The mean cumulative fluid balance was 0.52 ± 3.21 L, and the overall change in body weight (discharge weight − admission weight) was 0.55 ± 2.89 kg. There was a highly significant positive correlation between overall bodyweight and cumulative fluid balance (r- coefficeient= 0.947, p-value &lt;0.001).&#x0D; Conclusion: Bodyweight measured by weight-enabled beds could seem sufficiently robust or accurate to replace daily FB in ICU post open heart. Such measurement might be used to monitor overall changes in BW in patients with a prolonged ICU stay.

ARDS Patients Exhibiting a "Hyperinflammatory Anasarca" Phenotype Could Benefit From a Conservative Fluid Management Strategy.

Object: The fluid management strategy in ARDS is not very clear. A secondary analysis of RCT data was conducted to identify patients with ARDS benefitting from a conservative strategy of fluid management.Methods: The data of this study were downloaded from the ARDS network series of randomized controlled trials (Conservative Strategy vs. Liberal Strategy in 2006). Based on the clinical feature of patients, within the first 24 h after admission, clustering was performed using the k-means clustering algorithm to identify the phenotypes of ARDS. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to assess the effect of the two fluid management strategies on the 90-day cumulative mortality. Categorical/dichotomic variables were analyzed by the chi-square test. Continuous variables were expressed as the mean and standard deviation and evaluated through a one-way ANOVA. A P-value < 0.05 was defined as the statistically significant cut-off value.Results: A total of 1,000 ARDS patients were enrolled in this unsupervised clustering research study, of which 503 patients were treated with a conservative fluid-management strategy, and 497 patients were treated with a liberal fluid-management strategy. The first 7-day cumulative fluid balance in patients with the conservative strategy and liberal strategy were −136 ± 491 ml and 6,992 ± 502 ml, respectively (P < 0.001). Four phenotypes were found, and the conservative fluid-management strategy significantly improved the 90-day cumulative mortality compared with the liberal fluid-management strategy (HR = 0.532, P = 0.024) in patients classified as “hyperinflammatory anasarca” phenotype (phenotype II). The characteristics of this phenotype exhibited a higher WBC count (20487.51 ± 7223.86/mm3) with a higher incidence of anasarca (8.3%) and incidence of shock (26.6%) at baseline. The furthermore analysis found that the conservative fluid management strategy was superior to the liberal fluid management strategy in avoiding superinfection (10.10 vs. 14.40%, P = 0.037) and returned to assisted breathing (4.60 vs. 16.20%, P = 0.030) in patients classified as “hyperinflammatory anasarca” phenotype. In addition, patients with other phenotypes given the different fluid management strategies did not show significant differences in clinical outcomes.Conclusion: Patients exhibiting a “hyperinflammatory anasarca” phenotype could benefit from a conservative fluid management strategy.

Qualitative and quantitative muscle ultrasound changes in patients with COVID-19–related ARDS

ObjectivesSevere forms of the novel coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) are associated with systemic inflammation and hypercatabolism. The aims of this study were to compare the time course of the size and quality of both rectus femoris and diaphragm muscles between critically ill, COVID-19 survivors and non-survivors and to explore the correlation between the change in muscles size and quality with the amount of nutritional support delivered and the cumulative fluid balance. MethodsThis was a prospective observational study in the general intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital for COVID-19. The right rectus femoris cross-sectional area and the right diaphragm thickness, as well as their echo densities were assessed within 24 h from ICU admission and on day 7. We recorded anthropometric and biochemical data, respiratory mechanics and gas exchange, daily fluid balance, and the number of calories and proteins administered. ResultsTwenty-eight patients were analyzed (65 ± 10 y of age; 80% men, body mass index 30 ± 7.8 kg/m2). Rectus femoris and diaphragm sizes were significantly reduced at day 7 (median = –26.1 [interquartile ratio [IQR], = –37.8 to –15.2] and –29.2% [–37.8% to –19.6%], respectively) and this reduction was significantly higher in non-survivors. Both rectus femoris and diaphragm echo density were significantly increased at day 7, with a significantly higher increase in non-survivors. The change in both rectus femoris and diaphragm size at day 7 was related to the cumulative protein deficit (R = 0.664, P < 0.001 and R = 0.640, P < 0.001, respectively), whereas the change in rectus femoris and diaphragm echo density was related to the cumulative fluid balance (R = 0.734, P < 0.001 and R = 0.646, P < 0.001, respectively). ConclusionsEarly changes in muscle size and quality seem related to the outcome of critically ill COVID-19 patients, and to be influenced by nutritional and fluid management strategies.

Fluid Balance and Ventilator-Associated Events Among Patients Admitted to ICUs in China: A Nested Case-Control Study.

Fluid therapy is an important component of intensive care management, however, optimal fluid management is unknown. The relationship between fluid balance and ventilator-associated events has not been well established. This study investigated the dose-response relationship between fluid balance and ventilator-associated events. Nested case-control study. The study was based on a well-established, research-oriented registry of healthcare-associated infections at ICUs of West China Hospital system (Chengdu, China). A total of 1,528 ventilator-associated event cases with 3,038 matched controls, who consistently underwent mechanical ventilation for at least 4 days from April 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018, were included. None. We calculated cumulative fluid balance within 4 days prior to ventilator-associated event occurrence. A weighted Cox proportional hazards model with restricted cubic splines was used to evaluate the dose-response relationship. A nonlinear relationship between fluid balance and all three tiers of ventilator-associated events, patients with fluid balance between -1 and 0 L had the lowest risk (p < 0.05 for nonlinear test). The risk of ventilator-associated event was significantly higher in patients with positive fluid balance (4 d cumulative fluid balance: 1 L: 1.19; 3 L: 1.92; 5 L: 2.58; 7 L: 3.24), but not in those with negative fluid balance (-5 L: 1.34; -3 L: 1.14; -1 L: 0.98). There was nonlinear relationship between fluid balance and all three tiers of ventilator-associated event, with an fluid balance between -1 and 0 L corresponding to the lowest risk. Positive but not negative fluid balance increased the risk of ventilator-associated events, with higher positive fluid balance more likely to lead to ventilator-associated events.

Lung Ultrasound-Guided Fluid Management versus Standard Care in Surgical ICU Patients: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

The value of lung ultrasound (LU) in assessing extravascular lung water (EVLW) was demonstrated by comparing LU with gold-standard methods for EVLW assessment. However, few studies have analysed the value of B-Line score (BLS) in guiding fluid management during critical illness. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate if a BLS-guided fluid management strategy could improve fluid balance and short-term mortality in surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We conducted a randomised, controlled trial within the ICUs of two university hospitals. Critically ill patients were randomised upon ICU admission in a 1:1 ratio to BLS-guided fluid management (active group) or standard care (control group). In the active group, BLS was monitored daily until ICU discharge or day 28 (whichever came first). On the basis of BLS, different targets for daily fluid balance were set with the aim of avoiding or correcting moderate/severe EVLW increase. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Over 24 months, 166 ICU patients were enrolled in the trial and included in the final analysis. Trial results showed that daily BLS monitoring did not lead to a different cumulative fluid balance in surgical ICU patients as compared to standard care. Consecutively, no difference in 28-day mortality between groups was found (10.5% vs. 15.6%, p = 0.34). However, at least 400 patients would have been necessary for conclusive results.

Cumulative Fluid Balance during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation and Mortality in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is considered a salvage therapy in cases of severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with profound hypoxemia. However, the need for high-volume fluid resuscitation and blood transfusions after ECMO initiation introduces a risk of fluid overload. Positive fluid balance is associated with mortality in critically ill patients, and conservative fluid management for ARDS patients has been shown to shorten both the duration of mechanical ventilation and time spent in intensive care, albeit without a significant effect on survival. Nonetheless, few studies have addressed the influence of fluid balance on clinical outcomes in severe ARDS patients undergoing ECMO. In the current retrospective study, we examined the impact of cumulative fluid balance (CFB) on hospital mortality in 152 cases of severe ARDS treated using ECMO. Overall hospital mortality was 53.3%, and we observed a stepwise positive correlation between CFB and the risk of death. Cox regression models revealed that CFB during the first 3 days of ECMO was independently associated with higher hospital mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 1.110 [95% CI 1.027–1.201]; p = 0.009). Our findings indicate the benefits of a conservative treatment approach to avoid fluid overload during the early phase of ECMO when dealing with severe ARDS patients.