title: Frequency of fluid overload and usefulness of bioimpedance in patients requiring intensive care for sepsis syndromes.
abstract: Guideline-directed therapy for sepsis calls for early fluid resuscitation. Often patients receive large volumes of intravenous fluids. Bioimpedance vector analysis (BIVA) is a noninvasive technique useful for measuring total body water. In this prospective observational study, we enrolled 18 patients admitted to the intensive care unit for the treatment of sepsis syndromes. Laboratory data, clinical parameters, and BIVA were recorded daily. All but one patient experienced volume overload during the course of treatment. Two patients had >20 L of excess volume. Volume overload is clinically represented by tissue edema. Edema is not a benign condition, as it impairs tissue oxygenation, obstructs capillary blood flow, disrupts metabolite clearance, and alters cell-to-cell interactions. Specifically, volume overload has been shown to impair pulmonary, cardiac, and renal function. A positive fluid balance is a predictor of hospital mortality. As septic patients recover, volume excess should be aggressively treated with the use of targeted diuretics and renal replacement therapies if necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia (Larsen); Department of Internal Medicine, Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Southfield, Michigan (Singh, Velocci, Nasser); and Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute, Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital and Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, and The Heart Hospital, Plano, Texas (McCullough).
authors.forename: Timothy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia (Larsen); Department of Internal Medicine, Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Southfield, Michigan (Singh, Velocci, Nasser); and Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute, Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital and Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, and The Heart Hospital, Plano, Texas (McCullough).
authors.forename: Gurbir
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia (Larsen); Department of Internal Medicine, Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Southfield, Michigan (Singh, Velocci, Nasser); and Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute, Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital and Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, and The Heart Hospital, Plano, Texas (McCullough).
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Velocci
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia (Larsen); Department of Internal Medicine, Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Southfield, Michigan (Singh, Velocci, Nasser); and Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute, Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital and Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, and The Heart Hospital, Plano, Texas (McCullough).
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasser
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Cardiology, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia (Larsen); Department of Internal Medicine, Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Southfield, Michigan (Singh, Velocci, Nasser); and Baylor Heart and Vascular Institute, Baylor Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital and Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, and The Heart Hospital, Plano, Texas (McCullough).
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: McCullough