Fluids in Sepsis and Septic Shock

Overview

Despite evidence of the physiologic benefits and possible lower mortality associated with low chloride solutions, normal saline remains the most wildly used fluid in the world. Given uncertainty about the impact of lower chloride versus higher chloride solutions on mortality, it is unlikely that clinical practice will change without new and direct RCT evidence. Editorials published in leading critical care journals have called for RCT's to address this important clinical question. The proposed feasibility RCT will investigate the feasibility of a large-scale trial directly comparing low chloride versus normal chloride for resuscitation in septic shock on patient-important outcomes such as mortality and AKI.

Severe infection can lead to many complications within the human body including low blood pressure, which is called septic shock. The main treatments for septic shock are intravenous antibiotics and intravenous fluid. There are many different intravenous fluids available for doctors to use. Each one of these fluids has potential advantages as well as potential disadvantages. Doctors will often look at many things when deciding which fluid to give including the results of bloodwork and the clinical characteristics of the patients themselves. There is limited direction from research studies taht using one fluid type is better than another. Some preliminary research in the field has suggested that one specific electrolyte, call chloride, may be harmful when given to patients in high concentrations. Animal research has shown that the administration of high chloride fluids may be harmful to the lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal and muscle cells. Some intravenous fluids have higher concentrations of chloride than others. The investigators plan to study the impact of giving patients with severe infection intravenous fluids with either a high chloride concentration (normal saline or high chloride albumin) or a low chloride concentration (Ringers Lactate or low chloride albumin). Although, the investigators plan for a larger trial looking at patient-important outcomes such as rate of death, kidney failure and length of stay in the ICU the investigators think it's important to start with a feasibility study. If the investigators are able to show a larger trial is feasible then the investigators will apply for further funding and use the lessons learned from this pilot to optimize the larger study. The larger study has the potential to guide the care of critically ill patients with infection worldwide.