Targeted Fluid Resuscitation in Septic Shock: A Comparative Study between Capillary Refilling Time and Venous to Arterial PCO2

Adequate cell perfusion as a result of resuscitation in septic shock patients has been considered a critical point in the prognosis of these patients. There have been many parameters that can be followed up to achieve this target as increase the difference between arterial PCO2 and venous PCO2 more than 6 mmHg that has been considered as a signal of tissue hypo perfusion in septic shock patients. Therefore, pursuing to normalize this difference less than 6 mmhg may lead to the risk of fluid overload. Peripheral perfusion, assessed by the capillary refill time (CRT), could be an effective alternative resuscitation target as recently demonstrated by the ANDROMEDA-SHOCK trial. We designed the present randomized controlled trial to address the impact of a CRT-targeted (CRT-T) fluid resuscitation versus the difference of arterial PCO2 to venous PCO2 on fluid balances within 24 h of septic shock diagnosis