A pilot randomized clinical trial comparing a protocol-based fluid management strategy to usual care in critically ill patients receiving kidney replacement therapy. The fluid management protocol is intended to achieve neutral or negative daily fluid balance by both preventing and treating fluid accumulation.
Severe acute kidney injury (AKI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) is almost uniformly complicated by fluid accumulation, thus making fluid removal a central component of the renal replacement therapy (KRT) prescription. Whereas the achievement and maintenance of euvolemia are critical objectives in the care of critically ill patients with severe AKI, there remain important knowledge gaps in our ability to effectively and safely deliver ultrafiltration. Multisystemic congestion resulting from fluid accumulation is believed to mediate adverse outcomes in this population and the timely use of mechanical fluid removal may improve prognosis. However, fluid removal may be associated with hemodynamic instability during KRT which may precipitate complications. The optimal fluid management strategy is currently unknown. The study is a pilot randomized clinical trial comparing a protocol-based fluid management strategy with usual care in critically ill patients receiving KRT. The fluid management protocol is intended to achieve neutral or negative daily fluid balance by both preventing and treating fluid accumulation. The protocol was designed to provide a standardized framework to prescribe fluid removal while allowing the attending care team to modify treatment targets according to their clinical evaluation. The primary objective of this trial is to determine whether the intervention results in a difference in cumulative fluid balance from randomization to 5 days. Feasibility will be documented including the ability to enroll the target population, protocol adherence, and the capacity to achieve follow-up through 90 days. Secondary outcomes will also include short-term patient outcomes, safety outcomes, and health resource utilization related to KRT delivery.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
Fluid removal will be prescribed using a standardized template updated at least once per working day, before noon of each day, by the attending care team. This protocolized prescription will contain three components. Fluid removal will be prescribed using a standardized template updated at least once per working day, before noon of each day, by the attending care team. This protocolized prescription will contain three components. The first component of this prescription will be to define the 24h-fluid balance target either aiming for a negative fluid balance of 2 to 3% body weight (1.4-2.1 liters in a 70 Kg participant) (Option 1) or by aiming to avoid fluid accumulation by targeting a neutral fluid balance within 0.5% of body weight variation (-350 to +350 mL in a 70 Kg participant) (Option 2). The second component is to pre-specify a prescription for fluid removal using KRT. The third component is to prompt a daily re-evaluation of fluid intake by the attending care team.
The net fluid removal and the rate of net fluid removal will not be protocolized and will be prescribed and adjusted according to the attending care team without any specific guidance. The use of the documents provided for the intervention group will not be permitted in the control arm.
Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Cumulative fluid balance
The difference between quantifiable fluid intake and output
Time frame: From randomization to the end of day 5
Feasibility: Ability to successfully enroll
Target \>30% of fully eligible patients
Time frame: During screening and enrolment
Feasibility: Protocol adherence
defined as \>80% of participants adhering to the allocated treatment for 5 days after enrolment
Time frame: From randomization to the end of day 5
Feasibility: Ability to achieve follow-up
Ability to achieve \> 95% follow-up regarding all clinical outcomes
Time frame: From randomization through day 90.
Clinical: Death
Death from any cause
Time frame: From randomization through day 90.
Clinical: Vasoactive therapy-free days
A vasoactive-free day will be defined as ≥ 2 hours of receipt of any vasoactive therapy provided by continuous infusion within a 24 hour period. Vasoactive therapy include norepinephrine, vasopressin, phenylephrine, epinephrine, dopamine \>5mcg/kg/min, and angiotensin II.
Time frame: From randomization through day 28.
Clinical: Mechanical ventilation-free days
A ventilator-free day will be defined as the receipt of ≥ 2 hours of mechanical ventilation within a 24-hour period.
Time frame: From randomization through day 28.
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NONE
Enrollment
150
Clinical: KRT-free days
An KRT-free day will be defined receiving any KRT modality for ≥ 2 hours within a 24 hours period.
Time frame: From randomization through day 28.
Clinical: ICU-free days
An ICU-free day will be defined as admission to an ICU for ≥ 2 hours within a 24 hours period.
Time frame: From randomization through day 90
Clinical: Hospital-free days
Hospital-free days will be defined as a 24-hour period completely free of an inpatient hospitalization.
Time frame: From randomization through day 90
Dependence on KRT
KRT dependence will be defined by the receipt of any form of KRT
Time frame: within +/- 7 days of the 90-day time point following randomization.
Resource use: cumulative time of continuous KRT
Total cumulative duration in hours
Time frame: From randomization to the end of day 5
Resource use: cumulative time of intermittent KRT
Total cumulative duration in hours
Time frame: From randomization to the end of day 5
Safety: Maximal vasopressor requirements
Maximal vasopressor requirements as per the vasoactive-inotropic score recorded during each 24-hour period.
Time frame: From randomization to the end of day 5
Safety: Severity of illness
Total sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score recorded during each 24-hour period.
Time frame: From randomization to the end of day 5
Process measures: Target fluid balance as prescribed in the initial fluid balance prescription for the day
Time frame: From randomization to the end of day 5
Process measures: Proportion of time in which a neutral fluid balance target is selected by the clinical care team
Time frame: From randomization to the end of day 5
Process measures: Clinical elements used to assess fluid accumulation
Time frame: From randomization to the end of day 5
Process measures: The difference between the original target and the fluid balance achieved at the end of each 24-hour period
Time frame: From randomization to the end of day 5