Sepsis represents an emerging public health problem worldwide. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an effective and sensitive tool compared to the traditional chest auscultation and chest X-rays. Its use as a primary tool in the acutely hypoxemic or dyspneic patient gives an immediate information about his lung state and helps therapeutic decisions.
AIM OF THE WORK:
The aim of this work was to evaluate the utilization of critical care lung ultrasound score and inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter in predicting outcome in septic critically ill patients.
METHODS:
In this prospective observational study, 85 patients were assessed from Critical Care Medicine Department of Alexandria Main University Hospital with sepsis or septic shock according to surviving sepsis campaign. Patients were subjected to complete history taking, full clinical examination and records e.g.: suspect source of sepsis, routine laboratory investigations, APACHE II score, chest X-ray, serum lactate level, hypoxic index and SOFA score. Patients were assessed upon admission to intensive care unit (ICU) with lung ultrasonography (U/S) using 8-region method, while IVC collapsibility and distensibility indices were measured using ultrasonography and echocardiography. The primary endpoints for this study were 7-day, 28-day mortality and secondary endpoints were ICU length of stay, hospital stay and mechanical ventilation (MV) days. Regarding mortality at day 28, patients were classified into two groups: Group I: survived group included “39 patients". Group II: non-survived group included “46 patients".