Ultrasound Assessment of Inferior Vena Cava Collapsibility Index (IVCCI) to Guide Pre-operative Fluid Management in Critically Ill Pre-eclamptic Patients in Comparison with the Standard Fluid Management

Fluid therapy in preeclamptic patients presents a challenge. volume expansion may precipitate pulmonary edema while fluid restriction may worsen renal function and may aggravate post-spinal hypotension during cesarean section.

Pre-eclampsia predisposes to maternal mortality. It presents a serious hypertensive disorder during pregnancy which may progress rapidly to serious complications, including the death of both mother and fetus The optimal fluid management strategy constitutes a cornerstone in the management. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) guidelines for severe pre-eclampsia recommend restrictive fluid therapy, in keeping with the absence of evidence favoring volume expansion. Restrictive management is advocated by The Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ) with additional fluid administration only recommended before intravenous hydralazine, regional anesthesia, immediate delivery, or in oliguric patients where a volume deficit is suspected.

Overall, limited evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of ultrasound assessment of the IVC collapsibility index to guide pre-operative fluid management in critically ill pre-eclamptic patients. A meta-analysis stated that few research trials are available in the obstetric population. Some studies suggest that it can accurately predict fluid responsiveness, but others argue that it may not be helpful.

Our trial is the first trial that compares the efficacy of IVCCI-guided perioperative fluid therapy against standard fluid therapy guided by clinical parameters in critically ill pre-eclamptic patients.