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© 2022 Wall et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Background

Fluid bolus therapy (FBT) is common in ICUs but whether it achieves the effects expected by intensivists remains uncertain. We aimed to describe intensivists’ expectations and compare them to the actual physiological effects.

Methods

We evaluated 77 patients in two ICUs (Sweden and Australia). We included patients prescribed a FBT ≥250 ml over ≤30 minutes. The intensivist completed a questionnaire on triggers for and expected responses to FBT. We compared expected with actual values at FBT completion and after one hour.

Results

Median bolus size (IQR) was 300 ml (250–500) given over a median (IQR) of 21 minutes (15–30 mins). Boluses were 57% Ringer´s Acetate and 43% albumin (40-50g/L). Hypotension was the most common trigger (47%), followed by oliguria (21%). During FBT, 55% of patients received noradrenaline and 38% propofol. Intensivists expected a median MAP increase of 2.6 mmHg (IQR: -3.1 to +6.8) at end of bolus and of 1.3 mmHg (-3.5 to + 4.1) after one hour. Intensivist´s’ expectations were judged to be accurate if they were within 5% above or below measured values. At FBT completion, 33% of MAP expectations were overestimations and 42% were underestimations. One hour later, 19% were overestimations and 43% were underestimations. Only 8% of expectations of measured urine output (UO) were accurate and 44% were overestimations. Correction for sedation or vasopressors did not modify these findings.

Conclusions

The physiological expectations of intensivists after FBT carried a high risk of both over and underestimation. Since the physiological effect FBT was often small and did not meet clinical expectations, a reassessment of its rationale, effect, duration, and role appears justified.

Details

Title
An observational study of intensivists’ expectations and effects of fluid boluses in critically ill patients
Author
Wall, Olof; Cutuli, Salvatore; Wilson, Anthony; Eastwood, Glenn; Lipka-Falck, Adam; Törnberg, Daniel; Bellomo, Rinaldo; Cronhjort, Maria
First page
e0265770
Section
Research Article
Publication year
2022
Publication date
Mar 2022
Publisher
Public Library of Science
e-ISSN
19326203
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2642871744
Copyright
© 2022 Wall et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.