Echocardiographic measure of dynamic arterial elastance predict pressure response during norepinephrine weaning: an observational study

The purpose of this study was to determine whether dynamic elastance EAdyn derived from echocardiographic measurements of stroke volume variations can predict the success of a one-step decrease of norepinephrine dose. In this prospective single-center study, 39 patients with vasoplegic syndrome treated with norepinephrine and for whom the attending physician had decided to decrease norepinephrine dose and monitored by thermodilution were analyzed. EAdyn is the ratio of pulse pressure variation to stroke volume variation and was calculated from echocardiography stroke volume variations and from transpulmonary thermodilution. Pulse pressure variation was obtained from invasive arterial monitoring. Responders were defined by a decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) > 10% following norepinephrine decrease. The median decrease in norepinephrine was of 0.04 [0.03–0.05] µg kg−1 min−1. Twelve patients (31%) were classified as pressure responders with a median decrease in MAP of 13% [12–15%]. EAdyn was lower in pressure responders (0.40 [0.24–0.57] vs 0.95 [0.77–1.09], p < 0.01). EAdyn was able to discriminate between pressure responders and non-responders with an area under the curve of 0.86 (CI95% [0.71 to1.0], p < 0.05). The optimal cut-off was 0.8. EAdyn calculated from the echocardiographic estimation of the stroke volume variation and the invasive arterial pulse pressure variation can be used to discriminate pressure response to norepinephrine weaning. Agreement between EAdyn calculated from echocardiography and thermodilution was poor. Echocardiographic EAdyn might be used at bedside to optimize hemodynamic treatment.

Changes in dynamic arterial elastance induced by volume expansion and vasopressor in the operating room: a prospective bicentre study

Background Dynamic arterial elastance (Eadyn), defined as the ratio between pulse pressure variations and stroke volume variations, has been proposed to assess functional arterial load. We evaluated the evolution of Eadyn during volume expansion and the effects of neosynephrine infusion in hypotensive and preload-responsive patients. Methods In this prospective bicentre study, we included 56 mechanically ventilated patients in the operating room. Each patient had volume expansion and neosynephrine infusion. Stroke volume and stroke volume variations were obtained using esophageal Doppler, and pulse pressure variations were measured through the arterial line. Pressure response to volume expansion was defined as an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥ 10%. Results Twenty-one patients were pressure responders to volume expansion. Volume expansion induced a decrease in Eadyn (from 0.69 [0.58–0.85] to 0.59 [0.42–0.77]) related to a decrease in pulse pressure variations more pronounced than the decrease in stroke volume variations. Baseline and changes in Eadyn after volume expansion were related to age, history of arterial hypertension, net arterial compliance and effective arterial elastance. Eadyn value before volume expansion > 0.65 predicted a MAP increase ≥ 10% with a sensitivity of 76% (95% CI 53–92%) and a specificity of 60% (95% CI 42–76%). Neosynephrine infusion induced a decrease in Eadyn (from 0.67 [0.48–0.80] to 0.54 [0.37–0.68]) related to a decrease in pulse pressure variations more pronounced than the decrease in stroke volume variations. Baseline and changes in Eadyn after neosynephrine infusion were only related to heart rate. Conclusion Eadyn is a potential sensitive marker of arterial tone changes following vasopressor infusion.