InSpectra St0

Hutchinson Technologies

Please see Bibliography of References for a list of abstracts, manuscripts and posters.

Microvascular Dysfunction

Persistent altered microvascular reactivity is predictive of mortality in septic patients

Carollo T, Creteur J, De Backer D, Vincent JL. Int Care Med. 2004;30(Supp 1):S163. Abstract 626.

Introduction: We hypothesised that the persistence of the altered microvascular response to reactive hyperaemia is associated with a worse outcome in septic patients.

Methods: Thenar eminence tissue O2 saturation (StO2) was continuously measured by NIRS in 37 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock before, during and after a 3 min arterial occlusion. Vasoreactivity was assessed daily during the first 3 days of diagnosis of sepsis, by the calculation of the slope of the increase in StO2 during the first 14 seconds following the ischemic period (slope [%/sec]). Daily slopes in survivors (S) and non-survivors (NS) were compared by ANOVA.

Results: The overall mortality was 43% (16/37). There was no difference in slopes between S and NS groups on day 1. On day 2 and day 3, slopes were significantly higher in the S than in the NS group.

S

NS

p

Day 1

3.5±1.5

3.1±1.7

0.13

Day 2

3.6±1.3

2.6±1.5

<0.05

Day 3

4.2±1.3

2.6±1.7

<0.05

Conclusion: NIRS can be used to monitor vascular reactivity in septic patients. An improvement during the first few days of admission is associated with a better outcome.