High-volume hemofiltration as salvage therapy in severe hyperdynamic septic shock

Objectives To evaluate the effect of short-term (12-h) high-volume hemofiltration (HVHF) in reversing progressive refractory hypotension and hypoperfusion in patients with severe hyperdynamic septic shock. To evaluate feasibility and tolerance and to compare observed vs. expected hospital mortality.Design and setting Prospective, interventional, nonrandomized study in the surgical-medical intensive care unit of an academic tertiary center.Patients Twenty patients with severe septic shock, previously unresponsive to a multi-intervention approach within a goal-directed, norepinephrine-based algorithm, with increasing norepinephrine (NE) requirements (> 0.3 μg kg^–1 min^–1) and lactic acidosis.Interventions Single session of 12-h HVHF.Measurements and results We measured changes in NE requirements and perfusion parameters every 4 h during HVHF and 6 h thereafter. Eleven patients showed decreased NE requirements and lactate levels (responders). Nine patients did not fulfill these criteria (nonresponders). The NE dose, lactate levels, and heart rates decreased and arterial pH increased significantly in responders. Hospital mortality (40%) was significantly lower than predicted (60%): 67% (6/9) in nonresponders vs. 18% (2/11) in responders. Of 12 survivors 7 required only a single 12-h HVHF session. On logistic regression analysis the only statistically significant predictor of survival was theresponse to HVHF (odds ratio 9).Conclusions A single session of HVHF as salvage therapy in the setting of a goal-directed hemodynamic management algorithm may be beneficial in severe refractory hyperdynamic septic-shock patients. This approach may improve hemodynamics and perfusion parameters, acid-base status, and ultimately hospital survival. Moreover, it is feasible, and safe.Electronic supplementary material The electronic reference of this article is . The online full-text version of this article includes electronic supplementary material. This material is available to authorised users and can be accessed by means of the ESM button beneath the abstract or in the structured full-text article. To cite or link to this article you can use the above reference.