title: Hemodynamic effects of plasma exchange in septic patients: preliminary report.
abstract: To assess the effects of plasma exchange on the hemodynamic performance of septic patients, we studied 12 septic patients (11 males and 1 female, age range 19-64, mean 39 +/- 17 years). After cardiovascular stabilization, plasma exchange was performed in the spontaneous mode via a femorofemoral arteriovenous shunt; during the treatment the infusion rate of cardiovascular drugs and the mechanical ventilation setting were not modified. Heart rate, pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, and peripheral vascular resistance did not change significantly. The stroke volume index increased significantly (from 49 +/- 9 to 60 +/- 9 ml/min/m2; p < 0.05) as well as the cardiac index (from 5.5 +/- 1.2 to 6.3 +/- 0.8 liters/min/m2, the oxygen delivery (from 785 +/- 166 to 872 +/- 118 ml/min/m2; p < 0.05), and the left ventricular stroke work index/pulmonary artery occlusion pressure ratio (from 4.03 +/- 1.92 to 5.07 +/- 2.54; p < 0.05). The oxygen consumption did not change. Four patients survived. In conclusion, in our patients plasma exchange was associated with an improvement in cardiac function, possibly due to the elimination of some sepsis mediator(s) with negative inotropic properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care, and Pain Therapy, University of Trieste School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berlot
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gullo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasiolo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silvestri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wörz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D017583:Hemodiafiltration; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006440:Hemofiltration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology; D011669:Pulmonary Wedge Pressure; D013318:Stroke Volume; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left