Role of Echocardiography and Ultrasound Indices in Resuscitation of Septic Shock Patients

Echocardiographic Left Ventricular End Diastolic Area Versus Carotid Artery Duplex as a Sensitive Indicator for Guiding Fluid Resuscitation in Septic Shock Patients . A Prospective Cohort Study

Fluid replacement is considered the cornerstone of hemodynamic management in critically ill patients especially in patients with septic shock. However, only about 50% of critically ill hemodynamically unstable patients are responsive to fluids. Consequently, the resuscitation of critically ill patients requires an accurate assessment of the patients' intravascular volume status and their volume responsiveness. In this study, we will compare the efficacy of carotid artery flow to echo left ventricular end diastolic volume as a predictive value for fluid resuscitation in septic shock patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Septic Shock; Fluid Resuscitation
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: carotid artery duplex; Procedure: Left ventricular end diastolic area

Detailed Description

Fluid replacement is considered the cornerstone of hemodynamic management in critically ill patients especially in patients with septic shock. However, only about 50% of critically ill hemodynamically unstable patients are responsive to fluids. Consequently, the resuscitation of critically ill patients requires an accurate assessment of the patients' intravascular volume status and their volume responsiveness. In this study, we will compare the efficacy of carotid artery flow to echo left ventricular end diastolic volume as a predictive value for fluid resuscitation in septic shock patients.The Doppler study of carotid artery circulation (Velocity Time Integral, Peak Velocity) is simple and overpasses this common limitation among intensive care patients. Moreover, it showed to be an easy-learning tool The Velocity Time Integral (VTI) is a measurement of blood flow during systole that is passing through the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT). The normal range for a VTI is 18-22 cm, values below this are suggestive of depressed cardiac output, an increase in the VTI is indicative of an increase in cardiac output. If a significant change in VTI 15% or more VTI0is observed after a fluid challenge, this would indicate that the patient is preload (fluid) responsive.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 40

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: baheya kamel; Phone Number: +2-01115746487; Email: baheya.hesham.kamel@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Egypt
  • Cairo, Egypt
    • Recruiting
    • Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University
    • Contact: Rania Maher; Phone Number: +2-01000544520; Email: raniamhm.rm@gmail.com

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

septic shock patients in ICU

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• ▪ Age:18-50 years old

  • Sex: both males &females.
  • Patients diagnosed with septic shock according to SOFA score more than or equal 1

  • Presence of at least one sign of acute circulatory failure from:

    1. Low blood pressure (mean arterial pressure <65 mmHg and / or systolic <90 mmHg).
    2. Tachycardia> 120 bpm without other obvious cause of circulatory failure.
    3. Oliguria <1 ml / kg during the last hour suggestive of circulatory failure.
    4. Blood hyperlactatemia > 2mmol / l without other obvious cause a systemic circulatory failure.
    5. Another sign justifying, for example vascular increase capillary refill time more than 2 seconds.

Exclusion Criteria:

• ▪ Known significant valvular heart disease (sever aortic insufficiency or stenosis)

  • Known carotid artery stenosis >50% or previous carotid surgery
  • Clear contraindication to the carotid artery Doppler such as wound or infection or complete or partial occlusion of the carotid artery.
  • Arrhythmias affect stroke volume assessment (atrial fibrillation, frequent PVCs)
  • Dilated cardiomyopathy.
  • Poor transthoracic echocardiographic window
  • Patient refusal

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

septic shock patients; septic shock according to SOFA score more than or equal 1

Procedure: carotid artery duplex; , Carotid Doppler (T0) will be performed within 1-2 Hours of ICU Admission to measure the following parameters: "Peak systolic velocity" and Velocity Time Integral over the common carotid artery. Using the linear probe (VF12-4) of ultrasound machine (ACUSON NX3, Siemens Medical solution USA, Inc.); According to surviving sepsis campaign guidelines 2021, patients diagnosed with septic shock should be given 30ml/kg IV crystalloid fluid within the first 3 hours, the fluid will be given in the form of 500 ml boluses, each bolus should be given in 15 minutes.; FC "fluid challenge" will be performed by rapid volume infusion over (30minutes) of 1000mL Ringer acetate solution.; Carotid artery Duplex parameters will be repeated. Relative changes in "Peak Systolic Velocity, Velocity Time integral" will be expressed in; Procedure: Left ventricular end diastolic area; Echocardiography (T0) will be performed within 1-2 Hours of ICU Admission to measure LVEDA if less than 10 cm2 then the patient will be considered hypovolemic.; According to surviving sepsis campaign guidelines 2021, patients diagnosed with septic shock should be given 30ml/kg IV crystalloid fluid within the first 3 hours, the fluid will be given in the form of 500 ml boluses, each bolus should be given in 15 minutes.; FC "fluid challenge" will be performed by rapid volume infusion over (30minutes) of 1000mL Ringer acetate solution.; After five minutes from FC "fluid challenge" (T1), echocardiography will be repeated to re-measure LVEDA. Pt will be defined as a responder if LVEDA b

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Accuracy of echo and ultrasound indices	Diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity, specificity) of LVEDA and carotid artery flow parameters (PEAK Systolic Velocity, Velocity time integral (VTI), in predicting fluid responsiveness defined as an increase in stroke volume after a standardized fluid challenge.	1 Day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Ain Shams University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 3, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 2, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 12, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 18, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): April 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 18, 2026
• Last Verified: September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: septic shock; End diastolic diameter; carotid artery duplex
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Infections; Sepsis; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome; Inflammation; Shock; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Shock, Septic
• Other Study ID Numbers: FMASU MD 240L2025

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No