Point-of-Care Echocardiography to Assess Impact of Dynamic Cardiac Function, Renal and Cardiac Biomarkers in Cirrhosis With Refractory Ascites

The decrease in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and redistribution of blood volume with reduced intravascular volume compartment and third space fluid losses. Systemic vasodilatation is compensated by an increase in cardiac output (CO) in the initial stages of compensated cirrhosis. However, as the stage of liver cirrhosis progresses to decompensation, more prominent arterial vasodilatation and reduced SVR leads to a fall in CO. Thus, the cardiac homeostat is reset in a cirrhotic hyperdynamic circulation, wherein an increased heart rate, and therefore, increased cardiac output will no longer be able to compensate for the reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP), and decreased blood volumes in central venous territories.18 Consequent activation of vasoconstrictor systems including renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, vasopressin and the sympathetic nervous system comes into play to maintain the intravascular blood volume and pressure. These compensatory pathways cause an increase in sodium and water retention resulting in refractory ascites and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). In critically ill patients with cirrhosis, the limited cardiac reserve is further stressed, CCM and heart failure may be diagnosed for the first time when the patient develops sepsis or septic shock.

Point-of-care echocardiography (POC-Echo) is used to determine left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), inferior vena cava (IVC) dynamics and volume status in cirrhosis accurately. We will assess IVC dynamics, LV systolic function [LV ejection fraction (EF) & cardiac output (CO)], and diastolic dysfunction (E/e', e' and E/A ratio) in patients with cirrhosis ACLF and refractory ascites

Definition of CCM is as per updated CCMC criteria of 2020.