Abstract
Sepsis is a health complication causing immune dysregulation and ultimately end-organ damage, with millions of cases and deaths reported annually.1,2 The financial burden of sepsis is substantial and results in hospitalization costs in the United States exceeding $52 billion per year.3 Early diagnosis and effective management strategies are necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality following sepsis and septic shock.
This paper examines the use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS), specifically Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) collapsibility and how it may be able to guide fluid resuscitation management for patients with sepsis.4 While POCUS has not consistently demonstrated a significant decrease in rates of 30-90 day mortality rates, research suggests that it can optimize fluid management and reduce the total fluid volume that is necessary to be theraputic.5–7 A reduction in fluid volume has been linked to decreased overall hospital costs, radiology expenses, reduction in dialysis, and mechanical ventilation requirements following treatment.5 Additionally, POCUS integration has been associated with enhanced patient satisfaction due to its correlation with increased provider empathy and reduced patient anxiety.8 Further research is needed to both establish more definitive POCUS protocols and to look beyond ultrasound for other techniques to reduce death from sepsis.
Included in
Point of Care Ultrasound to Manage Fluid Resuscitation in Septic Shock
Sepsis is a health complication causing immune dysregulation and ultimately end-organ damage, with millions of cases and deaths reported annually.1,2 The financial burden of sepsis is substantial and results in hospitalization costs in the United States exceeding $52 billion per year.3 Early diagnosis and effective management strategies are necessary to reduce morbidity and mortality following sepsis and septic shock.
This paper examines the use of Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS), specifically Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) collapsibility and how it may be able to guide fluid resuscitation management for patients with sepsis.4 While POCUS has not consistently demonstrated a significant decrease in rates of 30-90 day mortality rates, research suggests that it can optimize fluid management and reduce the total fluid volume that is necessary to be theraputic.5–7 A reduction in fluid volume has been linked to decreased overall hospital costs, radiology expenses, reduction in dialysis, and mechanical ventilation requirements following treatment.5 Additionally, POCUS integration has been associated with enhanced patient satisfaction due to its correlation with increased provider empathy and reduced patient anxiety.8 Further research is needed to both establish more definitive POCUS protocols and to look beyond ultrasound for other techniques to reduce death from sepsis.