Physicians can assess venous congestions with point of care ultrasound of intraabdominal veins using the venous excess in ultrasound score (VExUS), which has been shown to predict the harmful effects of volume overload. We seek to determine if VExUS-guided deresuscitation reduces the fluid balance in critically ill patients with sepsis as compared to usual care. This score compiles findings from the inferior vena cava, hepatic vein Doppler waveform, portal vein Doppler waveform, and intrarenal vein Doppler waveform:~Grade 0: IVC < 2cm, normal pattern in flow patterns of hepatic, portal, and intrarenal veins Grade 1: IVC ≥ 2cm, normal patterns or mild abnormalities in flow patterns of hepatic, portal, and intrarenal veins.~Grade 2: IVC ≥ 2cm, severe venous flow pattern in one among hepatic, portal, and intrarenal veins.~Grade 3: IVC ≥ 2cm, severe venous flow pattern in multiple among hepatic, portal, and intrarenal veins.~After informed consent, subjects will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the VExUS-guided intervention arm vs control arm. Subjects in both arms will undergo daily ultrasound, and the investigator will calculate the VExUS immediately after ultrasounds are obtained.
Randomized, unblinded clinical trial of 152 critically ill patients with sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit. The primary determine if using the Venous Excess Ultrasound Score (VExUS) to guide fluid deresuscitation in critically ill patients with sepsis reduces net fluid balance at 5 days as compared to usual care.