Background
After resuscitation of cardiac arrest (CA), an acute circulatory failure occurs in about 50% of cases, which shares many characteristics with septic shock. Most frequently, supportive treatments are poorly efficient to prevent multiple organ failure and death. We evaluated whether an early plasma removal of inflammatory mediators using high cut-off continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (HCO-CVVHD) could improve hemodynamic status and outcome of these patients. Patients and
Conclusion
In cardiac arrest patients, HCO-CVVHD did not decrease the lenght of post-resuscitation shock and had no significant effect on hemodynamic profile. Registration: NCT00780299.
Methods
We performed a randomized open-label trial. Patients with post-cardiac arrest shock (defined as requirement of norepinephrine or epinephrine infusion > 1 mg/h) were included. The experimental group received 2 distinct sessions of HCO-CVVHD during the first 48 h following ICU admission. The control group received continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) with standard membranes if needed. The primary endpoint was the delay to shock resolution asssessed by the length of catecholamine infusion. Number of vasopressors-free days at day 28, arterial blood pressure measures every 6-hours, daily fluid balance and mortality (ICU and day-28) were evaluated as secondary endpoints.
Results
35 patients were included: 17 (median age 68.4, 59% male) in the HCO-CVVHD group and 18 (median age 66.3, 83% male) in the control group. Baseline characteristics did not differ between the two groups. Day-28 mortality rate was 64.7% and 72.2% in the HCO-CVVHD and control group, respectively (p = 0.72). Probability of vasopressors discontinuation over time was similar in the two groups (p for logrank test = 0.67). Number of day-28 catecholamine-free days was 25.1 [0, 26.5] and 24.5 [0, 26.2] in the HCO-CVVHD and control group, respectively (p = 0.65). No difference was observed regarding the daily-dose of vasopressors, arterial pressure profile and fluid balance.