Predictive value of pulse pressure variation for fluid responsiveness in septic patients using lung-protective ventilation strategies

Abstract

The applicability of pulse pressure variation (PP) to predict fluid responsiveness using lung-protective ventilation strategies is uncertain in clinical practice. We designed this study to evaluate the accuracy of this parameter in predicting the fluid responsiveness of septic patients ventilated with low tidal volumes (TV) (6 ml kg(1)).Forty patients after the resuscitation phase of severe sepsis and septic shock who were mechanically ventilated with 6 ml kg(1) were included. the PP was obtained automatically at baseline and after a standardized fluid challenge (7 ml kg(1)). Patients whose cardiac output increased by more than 15 were considered fluid responders. the predictive values of PP and static variables [right atrial pressure (RAP) and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP)] were evaluated through a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Thirty-four patients had characteristics consistent with acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome and were ventilated with high levels of PEEP [median (inter-quartile range) 10.0 (10.013.5)]. Nineteen patients were considered fluid responders. the RAP and PAOP significantly increased, and PP significantly decreased after volume expansion. the PP performance [ROC curve area: 0.91 (0.821.0)] was better than that of the RAP [ROC curve area: 0.73 (0.590.90)] and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure [ROC curve area: 0.58 (0.400.76)]. the ROC curve analysis revealed that the best cut-off for PP was 6.5, with a sensitivity of 0.89, specificity of 0.90, positive predictive value of 0.89, and negative predictive value of 0.90.Automatized PP accurately predicted fluid responsiveness in septic patients ventilated with low TV.