Objective
In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), conservative fluid management increases ventilator-free days without affecting mortality. Response to fluid management may differ based on patients’ initial central venous pressure (CVP). We hypothesized initial CVP would modify the effect of fluid management on outcomes.
Design
Retrospective analysis of the Fluid and Catheter Treatment Trial, a multicenter randomized trial comparing conservative to liberal fluid management in ARDS. We examined the relationship between initial CVP, fluid strategy, and 60-day mortality in univariate and multivariable analysis.
Setting
Twenty acute care hospitals.
Patients
Nine hundred and thirty-four ventilated ARDS patients with a CVP available at enrollment, 609 without baseline shock (for whom fluid balance was managed by study protocol).
Interventions
None.
Measurements and Main Results
Among patients without baseline shock, those with initial CVP > 8 mmHg experienced similar mortality with conservative and liberal fluid management (18% versus 18%, p=0.928), whereas those with CVP ≤8 mmHg experienced lower mortality with a conservative strategy (17% versus 36%, p=0.005). Multivariable analysis demonstrated an interaction between initial CVP and the effect of fluid strategy on mortality (p=0.031). At higher initial CVPs, the difference in treatment between arms was predominantly furosemide administration, which was not associated with mortality (p=0.122). At lower initial CVPs, the difference between arms was predominantly fluid administration, with additional fluid associated with increased mortality (p=0.013).
Conclusions
Conservative fluid management decreases mortality for ARDS patients with a low initial central venous pressure. In this population, the administration of intravenous fluids appears to increase mortality.