The respiratory variation in inferior vena cava diameter as a guide to fluid therapy

Intensive Care Med. 2004 Sep;30(9):1834-7. doi: 10.1007/s00134-004-2233-5. Epub 2004 Mar 25.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether the respiratory variation in inferior vena cava diameter (DeltaD(IVC)) could be related to fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients.

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Setting: Medical ICU of a non-university hospital.

Patients: Mechanically ventilated patients with septic shock (n=39).

Interventions: Volume loading with 8 mL/kg of 6% hydroxyethylstarch over 20 min.

Measurements and results: Cardiac output and DeltaD(IVC) were assessed by echography before and immediately after the standardized volume load. Volume loading induced an increase in cardiac output from 5.7+/-2.0 to 6.4+/-1.9 L/min (P<0.001) and a decrease in DeltaD(IVC) from 13.8+/-13.6 vs 5.2+/-5.8% (P<0.001). Sixteen patients responded to volume loading by an increase in cardiac output > or =15% (responders). Before volume loading, the DeltaD(IVC) was greater in responders than in non-responders (25+/-15 vs 6+/-4%, P<0.001), closely correlated with the increase in cardiac output (r=0.82, P<0.001), and a 12% DeltaD(IVC) cut-off value allowed identification of responders with positive and negative predictive values of 93% and 92%, respectively.

Conclusion: Analysis of DeltaD(IVC) is a simple and non-invasive method to detect fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients with septic shock.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cardiac Output*
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Fluid Therapy*
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Respiration, Artificial
  • Shock, Septic / physiopathology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / pathology*