Abstract
Background: Echocardiography (ECHO) is used to guide septic shock resuscitation, but without evidence for efficacy. Therefore, we compared the outcome of early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) and ECHO-guided management of hemodynamics in severe sepsis and septic shock. Methods: This is a single canter, randomized controlled trial conducted on 100 adult patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. Patients were assessed and treated either EGDT protocol (EGDT group) or ECHO-guided resuscitation protocol (ECHO group). Results: In this study, only 87 patients with severe sepsis/septic shock were analyzed; 45 patients in group I and 42 patients in group II. There was significant increase of norepinephrine, dobutamine doses, MV free days, time to normalization, time to weaning of vasopressors, total MV days and ICU and hospital stay in EGDT group compared to ECHO group. At 30 days, the mortality rate in EGDT group was 35.6% which was significantly higher compared to 14.3% in ECHO group. At 90 days, the overall mortality was significantly higher in EGDT group compared to Echo group (40.0% vs 16.7% respectively). Hazardous ratio of mortality was 1.630 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.123 - 2.366) and 1.653 (95% CI: 1.137 - 2.404) at 30 and 90 days respectively in EGDT group compared to ECHO group.Conclusion: In severe sepsis and septic shock, ECHO-guided management of hemodynamic resulted in decrease in mortality, lower total fluid intake, vasopressor and inotrope, earlier weaning of vasopressors and less MV days, ICU and hospital stay.