Study of Treatment's Echocardiographic Mechanisms

Crystalloid Liberal or Vasopressors Early Resuscitation in Sepsis: Study of Treatment's Echocardiographic Mechanisms (CLOVERS-STEM)

This ancillary study determines whether the Crystalloid Liberal or Vasopressors Early Resuscitation in Sepsis (CLOVERS) [ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03434028] treatment arms (restrictive fluids strategy vs. liberal fluid strategy) for early sepsis-induced hypotension are associated with differences in cardiac structure and function based on an echocardiogram at 24 hours after randomization. Secondarily, this ancillary study explores possible heterogeneity of treatment effect based on an echocardiogram performed shortly after randomization in CLOVERS.

The Crystalloid Liberal or Vasopressors Early Resuscitation in Sepsis: Study of Treatment's Echocardiographic Mechanisms (CLOVERS-STEM) study is an ancillary study to CLOVERS, a parent multi-center, prospective, phase 3 randomized non-blinded interventional trial of fluid treatment strategies in the first 24 hours for patients with sepsis-induced hypotension. The CLOVERS trial attempts to determine the impact of a restrictive fluids strategy (vasopressors first followed by rescue fluids) as compared to a liberal fluid strategy (fluids first followed by rescue vasopressors) on 90-day in-hospital mortality in patients with sepsis-induced hypotension. This ancillary study obtains echocardiograms among CLOVERS-enrolled patients who consent to CLOVERS-STEM at baseline and 24 hours later (secondarily, this study also measures serum troponin levels at baseline and 24 hours) to pursue three aims: 1. Evaluate for differences in left ventricular global longitudinal strain at 24 hours after randomization between treatment arms; 2. Evaluate for differences in right ventricular end diastolic area to left ventricular end diastolic area ratio at 24 hours after randomization between treatment arms; 3. Explore possible heterogeneity of treatment effect based on baseline echocardiogram.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Enrolled in the Crystalloid Liberal or Vasopressors Early Resuscitation in Sepsis (CLOVERS) Trial

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lack of Informed Consent for this Ancillary Study
• Allergy to Ultrasound-Enhancing Agents