Vexus-guided Fluid Management in Patients With Septic Shock After the Resuscitation Phase

Overview

It is well recognized the association between fluid volume administered and positive fluid balance with adverse outcomes . Active fluid removal is widely practiced in an attempt to mitigate this potential damage. However, it is not clear which is the best approach for the post-resuscitation phase in critically ill patients. In this context, Point-of-Care ultrasound (POCUS) through Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS) would allow the assessment of the degree of venous congestion, through the visualization of vascular anatomy and blood velocity using Doppler, being potentially useful to guide fluid removal. The investigators will evaluate whether fluid management after the initial phase of VExUS-guided resuscitation is able to improve outcomes compared to usual therapy in patients with septic shock. This is a single center, prospective, open and randomized clinical study in which patients admitted to intensive care will be included after the first 24 hours of resuscitation. A total of 200 patients will be randomized either to volume management guided by VExUS or to the standard therapy arm as per usual practice.

All patients hospitalized or admitted to the intensive care unit with septic shock will be screened for eligibility. Patients will be randomized using an electronic system (RedCap) to receive or not the intervention. After 24 hours of shock onset, patients without hypoperfusion after informed consent will be allocated into two groups. In intervention arm wil be assessed by VeXus. Patients without signs of venous congestion (VeXus = 0) will continue to be observed every 6 hours. In patients with VeXus ≥1, continuous infusion of intravenous furosemide will be initiated. During the first 48 hours after inclusion in the study, patients will be evaluated for the intervention every 6 to 8 hours: Time 1 (T1) at randomization, T2 after 6 hours of T1, T3 after 6 hours of T2 and every 6 to 8 hours later. At these times, in patients with a reduction of at least one point in VeXus, the furosemide infusion will be maintained. If there is a worsening or no improvement of at least one point in the VeXus, the infusion will be doubled.In patients where there are signs of hypoperfusion, furosemide therapy will be discontinued. The administration of furosemide will also be interrupted in patients who develop serum sodium \> 160 mEq/L; metabolic alkalosis (bicarbonate \> 35 mEq/L) or potassium \< 3mEq/L. In patients randomized to the usual therapy group, the attending physician will decide whether to prescribe furosemide or not according to his assessment without any defined time criteria. All other aspects of care will be managed according to routine unit protocols