Comparison of Central Venous Pressure and Inferior Vena Cava Distensibility Index in Assessing Fluid Responsiveness in Septic Shocked Patients

Sepsis and septic shock remain among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units worldwide. Septic shock is defined as a subset of sepsis characterized by profound circulatory, cellular, and metabolic dysfunction, associated with a high risk of death despite adequate fluid resuscitation, vasopressor support, and infection source control. The cornerstone of early septic shock management is hemodynamic resuscitation, with intravenous fluids serving as the first-line therapy to restore effective circulating blood volume, improve cardiac output, and optimize tissue perfusion. However, while adequate fluid administration is lifesaving, excessive fluid loading can be detrimental, leading to interstitial edema, impaired oxygen delivery, increased intra-abdominal pressure, and pulmonary edema that may worsen outcomes. Therefore, precise identification of patients who are "fluid responsive" is of paramount clinical importance.

A direct comparison between CVP (as a traditional, static marker) and IVC distensibility index (as a dynamic marker) in patients with septic shock is essential to determine their relative value in guiding fluid resuscitation. This study aims to evaluate and compare the predictive accuracy, feasibility, and clinical applicability of these two parameters as tools for identifying fluid responsiveness in septic shock patients. The results may provide valuable insight into optimizing fluid resuscitation strategies, minimizing fluid overload, and ultimately improving patient outcomes.