title: Correlation of arterial, central venous and capillary lactate levels in septic shock patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood lactate level increases in response to tissue hypoxia and this level is currently used to monitor shock management. To obtain the arterial lactate value in clinical practice is a time consuming process. Our previous study demonstrated good correlation between the capillary lactate determined by a portable lactate analyzer and the standard arterial lactate in critically ill patients. This study was aimed to examine the uses of this capillary lactate in septic shock.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective comparison of arterial, venous and capillary lactate level from septic shock patients admitted in the general wards and the Medical ICU, Department of Medicine, Siriraj hospital was performed during October 2009 to February 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients were included in the study. The mean age was 66 (24-86) years and 16 (53%) were female. The correlation between arterial and central venous was 0.992 and the correlation between arterial and capillary lactate level was 0.945 (p = 0.01 in both comparisons). In addition, there was certain agreement between the arterial and the capillary lactate especially when arterial lactate was below 10 mmol/L.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The capillary lactate level determined by the portable lactate analyzer (Accutrend Plus) correlated well with arterial lactate level. This method, when used cautiously, may be used to monitor septic shock treatment as an alternative to the standard arterial lactate determination.
authors: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand Bangkok, Thailand.
authors: Pattharawin
authors: P
authors: Pattharanitima
authors: Surat
authors: S
authors: Tongyoo
authors: Ranistha
authors: R
authors: Ratanarat
authors: Warakarn
authors: W
authors: Wilachone
authors: Aekarin
authors: A
authors: Poompichet
authors: Chairat
authors: C
authors: Permpikul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries; D002196:Capillaries; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007601:Jugular Veins; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017534:Radial Artery; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates