logistical difficulties

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the administration of a short acting beta-blocker in terms of effective increase in stroke volume (at least 15%) after 4 hours initiation of therapy in septic shock in patients with a hyperkinetic profile after 12-24 hours of care.

This research seeks to demonstrate that the proportion of patients with an increase in the systolic ejection superior or equal to 15% (relative to baseline) at four hours is different between the two arms of the study: (1) an experimental arm where patients receive an esmolol infusion according to a predetermined procedure and (2) a control arm where patients receive a saline infusion according to a predetermined procedure.

The secondary objectives are to compare the following items between the two arms of the study:

A. Central venous oxygen saturation at 4 hours (H4)

B. Changes in plasma concentration of lactates between H0 and H4

C. Changes in the tissue oxygen saturation between H0 and H4

D. Changes in echocardiographic parameters of systolic function of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV), as well as diastolic LV function between H0 and H4

E. Vascular Filling volume during the study period

F. Kidney function: urine output and creatinine changes between H0 and H4

G. The required vasopressor time between H0 and H4

H. Use of positive inotropic agents

I. The inflammatory response via the analysis of HLA-DR between H0 and H4 and M1 / M2 responses at H4

J. The duration of ICU stay, mortality, morbidity in terms of organ failures

Inclusion Criteria:

• The patient or his/her representative was informed about the implementation of the study, its objectives, constraints and patient rights or emergency consent
• The patient or his/her representative must haven given free and informed consent and signed the consent or emergency consent
• The patient must be affiliated with or the recipient of a health insurance plan
• Septic shock criteria: shock for which the suspected or proven starting point is an infection requiring vasopressors after adequate fluid resuscitation that started within the past 24 to 72 hours
• Precharge independence criteria obtained: i.e. pulsed pressure variation <13% or variation in ejection volume <10% or variation in the cardiac index after passive lift leg <10% or central venous pressure between 8 and 12 mmHg.
• Antibiotic treatment in progress
• Prescription ongoing vasopressor for 24 to 72 hours.
• Sinus rhythm
• Heart rate > 100 beats per minute
• Cardiac Index measured by thermodilution greater than 4.0 l / min / m^2
• Central venous oxygen saturation > 80% without positive inotropics such as dobutamine or isoproterenol (continuously taken or measured via central venous line in superior vena cava territory) on two successive samples in 12 hours
• Monitoring of stroke volume (invasive, semi-invasive or ultrasound)

Exclusion Criteria:

• The patient is participating in another study
• The patient has participated in another study in the last 3 months
• The patient is in an exclusion period determined by a previous study
• The patient is under any kind of guardianship
• The patient is under judicial protection
• The patient or his/her representative refuses to sign the consent
• It is impossible to correctly inform the patient
• The patient is pregnant, parturient, or breastfeeding
• The patient has a contraindication for a treatment used in this study
• Cardiac index < 4.0 l / min / m^2
• Need to introduce a positive inotropic agent (as determined by the physician in charge of the patient)
• Contraindications to the use of esmolol: Severe sinus bradycardia (less than 50 beats per minute); Sinus pathologies, severe disorders of atrioventricular conduction (without pacemaker), atrioventricular blocks of second and third degree; Cardiogenic shock; Severe hypotension; Decompensated heart failure; Untreated pheochromocytoma; Pulmonary hypertension; Acute asthma attack; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; peripheral arterial disease; Metabolic acidosis; Known hypersensitivity to esmolol.
• Patient with kidney failure (RIFLE Stage L)
• Chronic treatment with beta blocker
• Patient with ultrasound assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction < 40%