A positive cumulative fluid balance is associated with IAH and worse outcomes. Interventions to limit the development of a positive cumulative fluid balance are associated with improved outcomes. In patients not transgressing spontaneously from the Ebb to Flow phases of shock, late conservative fluid management and late goal directed fluid removal (de-resuscitation) should be considered.

IntroductionCapillary leak in critically ill patients leads to interstitial edema. Fluid overload is independently associated with poor prognosis. Bedside measurement of intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), fluid balance, and capillary leak index (CLI) may provide a valuable prognostic tool in mechanically ventilated patients.MethodsWe performed an observational study of 123 mechanically ventilated patients with extended hemodynamic monitoring, analyzing process-of-care variables for the first week of ICU admission. The primary outcome parameter was 28-day mortality. ΔmaxEVLWI indicated the maximum difference between EVLWI measurements during ICU stay. Patients with a ΔmaxEVLWI <−2 mL/kg were called 'responders'. CLI was defined as C-reactive protein (milligrams per deciliter) over albumin (grams per liter) ratio and conservative late fluid management (CLFM) as even-to-negative fluid balance on at least two consecutive days.ResultsCLI had a biphasic course. ΔmaxEVLWI was lower if CLFM was achieved and in survivors (−2.4 ± 4.8 vs 1.0 ± 5.5 mL/kg, p = 0.001; −3.3 ± 3.8 vs 2.5 ± 5.3 mL/kg, p = 0.001, respectively). No CLFM achievement was associated with increased CLI and IAPmean on day 3 and higher risk to be nonresponder (odds ratio (OR) 2.76, p = 0.046; OR 1.28, p = 0.011; OR 5.52, p = 0.001, respectively). Responders had more ventilator-free days during the first week (2.5 ± 2.3 vs 1.5 ± 2.3, p = 0.023). Not achieving CLFM and being nonresponder were strong independent predictors of mortality (OR 9.34, p = 0.001 and OR 7.14, p = 0.001, respectively).ConclusionThere seems to be an important correlation between CLI, EVLWI kinetics, IAP, and fluid balance in mechanically ventilated patients, associated with organ dysfunction and poor prognosis. In this context, we introduce the global increased permeability syndrome.

IntroductionAchievement of a negative fluid balance in patients with capillary leak is associated with improved outcome. We investigated the effects of a multi-modal restrictive fluid strategy aiming for negative fluid balance in patients with acute lung injury (ALI).MethodsIn this retrospective matched case-control study, we included 114 mechanically ventilated (MV) patients with ALI. We compared outcomes between a group of 57 patients receiving PAL-treatment (PAL group) and a matched control group, abstracted from a historical cohort. PAL-treatment combines high levels of positive end-expiratory pressure, small volume resuscitation with hyperoncotic albumin, and fluid removal with furosemide (Lasix®) or ultrafiltration. Effects on extravascular lung water index (EVLWI), intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), organ function, and vasopressor therapy were recorded during 1 week. The primary outcome parameter was 28-day mortality.ResultsAt baseline, no significant intergroup differences were found, except for lower PaO2/FIO2 and increased IAP in the PAL group (174.5 ± 84.5 vs 256.5 ± 152.7, p = 0.001; 10.0 ± 4.2 vs 8.0 ± 3.7 mmHg, p = 0.013, respectively). After 1 week, PAL-treated patients had a greater reduction of EVLWI, IAP, and cumulative fluid balance (-4.2 ± 5.6 vs -1.1 ± 3.7 mL/kg, p = 0.006; -0.4 ± 3.6 vs 1.8 ± 3.8 mmHg, p = 0.007; -1,451 ± 7,761 vs 8,027 ± 5,254 mL, p < 0.001). Repercussions on cardiovascular and renal function were limited. PAL-treated patients required fewer days of intensive care unit admission and days on MV (23.6 ± 15 vs 37.1 ± 19.9 days, p = 0.006; 14.6 ± 10.7 vs 25.5 ± 20.2 days, respectively) and had a lower 28-day mortality (28.1% vs 49.1%, p = 0.034).ConclusionPAL-treatment in patients with ALI is associated with a negative fluid balance, a reduction of EVLWI and IAP, and improved clinical outcomes without compromising organ function.

BackgroundVariability of body weight (BW) and height calls for indexation of volumetric hemodynamic parameters. Extravascular lung water (EVLW) has formerly been indexed to actual BW (BWact) termed EVLW-index (EVLWI). In overweight patients indexation to BWact might inappropriately lower indexed EVLWIact. Several studies suggest indexation of EVLWI to predicted BW (EVLWIpred). However, data regarding association of EVLWIact and EVLWpred to mortality and PaO2/FiO2 are inconsistent. Two recent studies based on biometric database-analyses suggest indexation of EVLWI to height (EVLWIheight). Therefore, our study compared the association of un-indexed EVLW, EVLWIheight, EVLWpred and EVLWIact to PaO2/FiO2 and Oxygenation index (OI = mean airway pressure*FiO2*/PaO2).MethodsA total of 2119 triplicate transpulmonary thermodilutions (TPTDs; PiCCO; Pulsion Medical-Systems, Germany) were performed in 50 patients from the evaluation, and 181 patients from the validation groups. Correlations of EVLW and EVLWI to PaO2/FiO2, OI and ROC-AUC-analyses regarding PaO2/FiO2<200 mmHg (primary endpoint) and OI>10 were performed.ResultsIn the evaluation group, un-indexed EVLW (AUC 0.758; 95%-CI: 0.637-0.880) and EVLWIheight (AUC 0.746; 95%-CI: 0.622-0.869) provided the largest ROC-AUCs regarding PaO2/FiO2<200 mmHg. The AUC for EVLWIpred was smaller (0.713). EVLWIact provided the smallest AUC (0.685). This was confirmed in the validation group: EVLWIheight provided the largest AUC (0.735), EVLWIact (0.710) the smallest. In the merged data-pool, AUC was significantly greater for EVLWIheight (0.729; 95%-CI: 0.674–0.784) compared to all other indexations including EVLWIact (ROC-AUC 0.683, p = 0.007) and EVLWIpred (ROC-AUC 0.707, p = 0.015). The association of EVLW(I) was even stronger to OI compared to PaO2/FiO2. In the merged data-pool, EVLWIheight provided the largest AUC regarding “OI>10” (0.778; 95%-CI: 0.713–0.842) compared to 0.739 (95%-CI: 0.669–0.810) for EVLWIact and 0.756 (95%-CI: 0.688–0.824) for EVLWIpred.ConclusionsIndexation of EVLW to height (EVLWIheight) improves the association of EVLW(I) to PaO2/FiO2 and OI compared to all other indexations including EVLWIpred and EVLWIact. Also considering two recent biometric database analyses, EVLWI should be indexed to height.

Elevated eCO levels in stable LTx recipients may reflect an increased BAL neutrophilia and could, therefore, be used as a noninvasive marker for airway inflammation after LTx.