The Influence of Furosemide on Fluid Balance and Intra-abdominal Pressure in Critically Ill Patients

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Intra-Abdominal Hypertension
• Interventions: Drug: furosemide

• Registration Number: NCT01072071
• Lead Sponsor: Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen (ZNA)

Brief Summary

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is a frequent cause of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. Secondary IAH is mainly caused by excessive fluid resuscitation.The World Society for the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS) recommends using diuretics to remove excess fluids and decrease intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). However, critically ill patients may not tolerate negative fluid balance in the acute phase of their disease and the injured kidney may not respond to diuretics. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of furosemide on fluid balance, IAP and kidney function in critically ill patients.

Detailed Description

Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) and abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) have been shown to cause organ dysfunction and mortality in different populations of critically ill patients. According to consensus definitions published by the World Society for the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome (WSACS), secondary IAH is due to a disease process outside the abdominal cavity. It is mainly caused by massive fluid resuscitation leading to bowel and abdominal wall edema or increased intra-abdominal volume and decreased abdominal wall compliance. Large observational studies have shown that positive fluid balance is an independent risk factor for mortality. The development of secondary IAH may be one of the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon. This has lead to the hypothesis that prognosis may be improved by managing fluid overload and aiming for a negative fluid balance as soon as possible after the resuscitation phase of the disease.

Several authors have shown in case reports and small series that renal replacement therapy with ultrafiltration can be used successfully to remove excess fluid and lower intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), but renal replacement therapy is invasive and clinicians may be reluctant in considering this therapy in patients with preserved diuresis and kidney function. In an effort to achieve the same goal using a less invasive technique, the new medical management algorithm for IAH published by the WSACS recommends the use of judicious diuresis in order to achieve a negative fluid balance and a decrease in IAP.

However, the kidney is especially sensitive to the deleterious effects of IAH and may be unresponsive to diuretics in the presence of IAH. Also, ongoing inflammation and capillary leak may lead to relative hypovolemia and impaired response to diuretics.

We plan a multicenter study to evaluate the influence of furosemide on fluid balance and IAP in critically ill patients with secondary intra-abdominal hypertension and to document the effect on the function of other organ systems. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and the safety of the furosemide administration protocol and to provide preliminary data to allow for an adequate power calculation.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2010-02
• Study Start: 2010-02
• Study First Submitted: 2010-02-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2010-02-18
• Study First Posted: 2010-02-19
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-02-19
• Last Update Posted: 2010-02-22
• Primary Completion: 2011-12
• Study Completion: 2012-03

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

• Adult (>18y)
• Sedation (Richmond Agitation and Sedation Score RASS ≤ -3) and mechanical ventilation anticipated to last for at least an additional 72h
• Indication for IAP monitoring according to the recommendations published by the WSACS
• IAP ≥ 12mmHg (intravesical IAP measurement according to WSACS guidelines)
• Absence of surgically treatable abdominal lesions
• Presence of fluid overload

Read More

Exclusion Criteria

• Pregnancy or lactation
• Assisted spontaneous breathing ventilator mode
• Chronic diuretic therapy or on diuretics during inclusion
• Contra-indication to bladder catheterization such as bladder surgery or genitourinary trauma
• Known hypersensitivity to furosemide
• Renal failure Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) class 3
• Patients requiring high dose vasopressors (norepinephrine >0.5µg/kg/min, dobutamine >10µg/kg/min or dopamine>10µg/kg/min, epinephrine>0.5µg/kg/min)
• Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) >25mmHg at study entry
• DNR orders in effect (other than DNR 1 'no CPR' order)
• Patient not expected to survive for 7 days
• Advanced liver cirrhosis (see pharmaceutical information on furosemide)
• paO2/FiO2 ratio of <100
• oliguria <500mL/24h preceding inclusion

Read More

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Furosemide group	furosemide	patients will be receiving standard of care ICU treatment of their underlying condition according to international guidelines and recommendations. In addition, furosemide will be administered in continuous infusion as per protocol in order to achieve a preset target diuresis that is adjusted according to haemodynamic tolerance.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
intra-abdominal pressure	every 4 hours during furosemide administration and daily for 7 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
serum creatinine	daily for 7 days
need for renal replacement therapy	daily for 7 days
ICU mortality	3 months
acid-base status	daily for 7 days
hospital and 28d mortality	after 28 days and after 6 months
duration of mechanical ventilation	3 months
ICU length of stay	3 months
vasopressor dose	daily for 7 days
fluid balance	daily for 7 days
SOFA score	daily for 7 days

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

ZNA Stuivenberg Intensive Care Unit; 🇧🇪 Antwerpen, Belgium