Objective: To evaluate whether or not brachial artery peak velocity (Vpeak-BA) induced by passive leg raising (PLR) may predict volume responsiveness.
Methods: We prospectively studied 29 patients enrolled into our intensive care unit (ICU) with spontaneous breathing during mechanical ventilation. Through echocardiography we compared the changes of brachial artery peak velocity induced by passive leg raising (ΔVBA-PLR) and the changes of left ventricle outflow tract velocity-time integral after volume expansion (ΔVTI-VE). Also the sensitivity and specificity of ΔVpeak-BA were determined in predicting volume responsiveness.
Results: Among them, 15 responded to volume expansion and the rest 14 did not. ΔVBA-PLR and ΔVTI-VE were mutually correlated (R(2) = 0.378, P = 0.011). The sensitivity and specificity of ΔVpeak-BA ≥ 16% to predict volume responsiveness were 73% and 87% respectively.
Conclusion: Brachial artery peak velocity induced by passive leg raising is a reliable indicator of predicting volume responsiveness in patients with spontaneous breathing.