Right ventricular end-diastolic volume as a predictor of the hemodynamic response to a fluid challenge.
OBJECTIVE
To compare thermodilution right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVI) and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (Ppao) as predictors of the hemodynamic response to a fluid challenge.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Medical ICU of a university-affiliated county hospital and medical-surgical ICU of a community hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-five critically ill patients who had one or more clinical conditions that suggested the possibility of inadequate preload.


METHODS
Thirty-six fluid challenges. Fluid (saline or colloid) was administered rapidly until the Ppao rose by at least 3 mm Hg. When a patient underwent more than one fluid challenge, these were given on separate days and for different clinical indications.


RESULTS
Responders (n=20; > or = 10% increase in stroke volume [SV]) and nonresponders (n=16; <10% increase in SV) differed with respect to baseline Ppao (10.0+/-3.4 vs 14.2+/-3.6 mm Hg; p=0.001), but not with respect to baseline RVEDVI (105+/-31 vs 119+/-33 mL/m2; p=0.22). There was a moderate correlation between RVEDVI and fluid-induced change in SV (r=0.44); the relationship between Ppao and change in SV was stronger (r=0.58). A positive response to fluid was observed in 4 of 9 cases in which RVEDVI exceeded 138 mL/m2, a threshold value that has been suggested to reliably predict a poor response to fluid.


CONCLUSIONS
RVEDVI was not a reliable predictor of the response to fluid. As a predictor of fluid responsiveness, Ppao was superior to RVEDVI. In an individual patient, adequacy of preload is best assessed by an empiric fluid challenge.
Wagner
J G
JG
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA.
Leatherman
J W
JW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016638:Critical Illness; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D013815:Thermodilution; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*