Fluid accumulation in adult ICU patients - A protocol for a scoping review

Introduction: Fluid accumulation in critically ill patients is associated with adverse outcomes. However, there is a substantial variability in the terminology and definitions used to describe fluid accumulation. We aim to provide an overview of evidence describing fluid accumulation in critically ill adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), including how it is defined, patient characteristics associated with fluid accumulation, ICU population, and outcomes assessed.

Methods: We will conduct a scoping review prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Pubmed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library will be searched systematically. All clinical studies reporting original data and investigating fluid accumulation, as defined by authors, in adult ICU patients will be included. We will assess the study design, the definition of fluid accumulation, ICU population, and the outcomes measured, categorised as patient-important or non-patient important, in the included studies. The results will be reported descriptively. The certainty of evidence will be assessed using a modified Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) on the research question level.

Discussion: This scoping review will provide an overview of definitions used for fluid accumulation, and describe ICU patient populations, patient characteristics, and outcomes assessed in ICU research.