A Non-invasive Approach to the Assessment of Volume Status in Mechanically Ventilated Septic Patients.

To evaluate the use of sonographic inferior caval vein assessment in mechanically ventilated septic patients.

Volume assessment in mechanically ventilated patients with inflammation is of major importance to guide fluid therapy. The researchers investigated whether measurement of caval vein diameter correlates with invasively assessed volume-based hemodynamic parameters.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 18-90
• presence of severe sepsis and septic shock
• invasive hemodynamic monitoring using the picco system