Background: IV fluid represents a basic therapeutic intervention for septic shock. Unfortunately, the optimal administration of IV fluid to maximize patient outcomes and prevent complications is largely unknown.
Methods: Patients with septic shock admitted to the medical ICUs of Barnes-Jewish Hospital (January to December 2014) requiring vasoactive agents for at least 12 h following initial fluid resuscitation were randomized to usual care or to targeted fluid minimization (TFM) guided by daily assessments of fluid responsiveness.
Results: Eighty-two patients were enrolled, 41 to usual care and 41 to TFM. For patients randomized to TFM, the net median (interquartile range) fluid balance was less at the end of day 3 (1,952 mL [48-5,003 mL] vs 3,124 mL [767-10,103 mL], P = .20) and at the end of day 5 (2,641 mL [-1,837 to 5,075 mL] vs 3,616 mL [ -1,513 mL to 9,746 mL], P = .40). TFM appeared to be safe, as indicated by similar clinical outcomes including in-hospital mortality (56.1% vs 48.8%, P = .51), ventilator days (8.0 days [3.25-15.25 days] vs 5.0 days [3.0-9.0 days], P = .30), renal replacement therapy (41.5% vs 39.0%, P = .82), and vasopressor days (4.0 days [2.0-8.0 days] vs 4.0 days [2.0-6.0 days], P = .84).
Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that TFM in patients with septic shock can be performed using protocol-guided assessments of fluid responsiveness. Larger trials of TFM in septic shock are needed.
Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT02473718; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.