Fluids in ARDS: more pros than cons.

In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), increased pulmonary vascular permeability makes the lung vulnerable to edema. The use of conservative as compared to liberal fluid strategies may increase the number of ventilator-free days and survival, as well as reduce organ dysfunction. Monitoring the effects of fluid administration is of the utmost importance; dynamic indexes, such as stroke volume and pulse pressure variations, outperform static ones, such as the central venous pressure. The passive leg raise and end-expiratory occlusion tests are recommended for guiding fluid management decisions. The type of intravenous fluids should also be taken into consideration: crystalloids, colloids, and human albumin have all been used for fluid resuscitation. Recent studies have also shown differences in outcome between balanced and non-balanced intravenous solutions. In preclinical studies, infusion of albumin promotes maintenance of the glycocalyx layer, reduces inflammation, and improves alveolar-capillary membrane permeability. Fluids in ARDS must be administered cautiously, considering hemodynamic and perfusion status, oncotic and hydrostatic pressures, ARDS severity, fluid type, volume and infusion rate, and cardiac and renal function. Of note, no guideline to date has recommended a specific fluid composition for use in ARDS; most physicians currently follow recommendations for sepsis.

Acidosis hiperclorémica: mito y realidad / Hyperchloremic acidosis

La acidosis metabólica es una alteración ácido-base frecuentemente observada en pacientes críticos. Aunque en situaciones extremas este desorden en sí mismo es amenazante para la vida, la presencia de una acidosis metabólica leve no siempre es nociva y puede ser un reflejo de la adaptación fisiológica del organismo a la injuria aguda. Diferentes autores han documentado el desarrollo de acidosis metabólica hiperclorémica asociada al aporte de grandes cantidades de solución salina 0,9 por ciento. Algunos consideran que se trata de una condición benigna y autolimitada, mientras otros sostienen que la acidosis hiperclorémica puede deteriorar la perfusión renal y esplácnica, sin embargo su relevancia clínica real es aún incierta. En un afán de evitar la aparición de acidosis hiperclorémica y sus potenciales efectos adversos, se han desarrollado cristaloides y coloides en formulaciones modificadas para que se asemejen más a la composición del plasma. En este artículo de revisión analizaremo slos mecanismos de producción de la acidosis metabólica hiperclorémica en base al abordaje físico-químico de Stewart; la evidencia existente sobre el impacto de este trastorno sobre las variables de desenlace de los pacientes críticos, y el rol clínico de las nuevas “soluciones balanceadas”.

Metabolic acidosis is an acid-base alteration frequently observed in critically ill patients. Even in extreme situations this disorder in itself is life threatening, the presence of a mild metabolic acidosis is not always harmful and may be the result of physiological adaptation of the organism to acute injury. Several authors have documented the development of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis associated with the infusion of large amounts of 0.9 percent normal saline. Some consider this to be a benign and transient, while others argue that hyperchloremic acidosis can impair renal and splanchnic perfusion, but her real clinical relevance remains uncertain. In an effort to prevent the development of hyperchloremic acidosis and its potential adverse effects have been development formulations of crystalloid and colloid modified to more closely resemble the composition of the plasma. In this review article will discuss the mechanism of production of hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis by the physicochemical approach Stewart, the existing evidence on the impact of this disorder on the outcome variables in critically ill patients, and clinical role of new “balanced solutions”.