title: Association between intravenous chloride load during resuscitation and in-hospital mortality among patients with SIRS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent data suggest that both elevated serum chloride levels and volume overload may be harmful during fluid resuscitation. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the intravenous chloride load and in-hospital mortality among patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), with and without adjustment for the crystalloid volume administered.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective analysis of 109,836 patients ≥ 18 years old that met criteria for SIRS and received fluid resuscitation with crystalloids. We examined the association between changes in serum chloride concentration, the administered chloride load and fluid volume, and the 'volume-adjusted chloride load' and in-hospital mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, increases in the serum chloride concentration were associated with increased mortality. Mortality was lowest (3.7%) among patients with minimal increases in serum chloride concentration (0-10 mmol/L) and when the total administered chloride load was low (3.5% among patients receiving 100-200 mmol; P < 0.05 versus patients receiving ≥ 500 mmol). After controlling for crystalloid fluid volume, mortality was lowest (2.6%) when the volume-adjusted chloride load was 105-115 mmol/L. With adjustment for severity of illness, the odds of mortality increased (1.094, 95% CI 1.062, 1.127) with increasing volume-adjusted chloride load (≥ 105 mmol/L).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among patients with SIRS, a fluid resuscitation strategy employing lower chloride loads was associated with lower in-hospital mortality. This association was independent of the total fluid volume administered and remained significant after adjustment for severity of illness, supporting the hypothesis that crystalloids with lower chloride content may be preferable for managing patients with SIRS.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1215 21st Avenue S., Suite 5160 MCE NT, Office 5163, Campus Box 8274, Nashville, TN, 37232-8274, USA, andrew.shaw@vanderbilt.edu.
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Karthik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raghunathan
authors.forename: Fred W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Peyerl
authors.forename: Sibyl H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Munson
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paluszkiewicz
authors.forename: Carol R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Schermer
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002712:Chlorides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D003102:Colloids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012151:Resuscitation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002712:Chlorides; D003102:Colloids