Accumulating evidence suggests that heart rate variability (HRV) alterations could serve as an indicator of sepsis progression and outcome, however, the relationships of HRV and major pathophysiological processes of sepsis remain unclear. Therefore, in this experimental study HRV was investigated in a clinically relevant long-term porcine model of severe sepsis/septic shock. HRV was analyzed by several methods and the parameters were correlated with pathophysiological processes of sepsis. In 16 anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and instrumented domestic pigs of either gender, sepsis was induced by fecal peritonitis. Experimental subjects were screened up to the refractory shock development or death. ECG was continuously recorded throughout the experiment, afterwards RR intervals were detected and HRV parameters computed automatically using custom made measurement and analysis MATLAB routines. In all septic animals, progressive hyperdynamic septic shock developed. The statistical measures of HRV, geometrical measures of HRV and Poincaré plot analysis revealed a pronounced reduction of HRV that developed quickly upon the onset of sepsis and was maintained throughout the experiment. The frequency domain analysis demonstrated a decrease in the high frequency component and increase in the low frequency component together with an increase of the low/high frequency component ratio. The reduction of HRV parameters preceded sepsis-associated hemodynamic changes including heart rate increase or shock progression. In a clinically relevant porcine model of peritonitis-induced progressive septic shock, reduction of HRV parameters heralded sepsis development. HRV reduction was associated with a pronounced parasympathetic inhibition and a shift of sympathovagal balance. Early reduction of HRV may serve as a non-invasive and sensitive marker of systemic inflammatory syndrome, thereby widening the therapeutic window for early interventions.

Although the burden of septic acute kidney injury continues to increase, the molecular pathogenesis remains largely obscure. The aim of this exploratory study was a discovery-driven analysis of dynamic kidney tissue protein expression changes applied for the first time in a classic large mammal model of sepsis. To achieve this goal, analyses of protein expression alterations were performed in serial samples of kidney cortical biopsies (before, 12 and 22 h of sepsis) in mechanically ventilated pigs challenged with continuous infusion of pseudomonas aeruginosa and compared with sham-operated control data. Global protein expression was analyzed using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Normodynamic sepsis was associated with 43% reduction in glomerular filtration. The exposure to surgical stress per se altered the renal protein expression profile, while sepsis induced distinct and highly dynamic proteome evolution shifting the balance toward cellular distress phenotype. We identified 20 proteins whose expression changes discriminated effects of sepsis from those induced by surgery. The data implicate endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, mitochondrial energy metabolism, immune/inflammatory signaling, and tubular transport as major activated pathways. Thus, by coupling the power of sequential tissue proteomics with whole-animal physiological studies, our study helped to establish a first global overview of critical renal proteomic events occurring during surgical trauma and early sepsis in a porcine model. The study supports the notion that multiple potentially subtle and even transient changes in several proteins which are members of key functional interrelated systems appear to play a role in septic acute kidney injury.

As controversy persists regarding the benefits of mechanical circulatory support in septic shock with a predominantly vasoplegic phenotype, preclinical studies may provide a useful alternative to fill the actual knowledge gap. Here, we investigated the physiologic responses to venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (VA-ECMO) in a clinically relevant porcine peritonitis-induced model of refractory vasodilatory septic shock. In 12 anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and instrumented domestic pigs, septic shock was induced by intraperitoneally inoculating autologous feces. After reaching the threshold for refractory vasodilatory shock (norepinephrine dose ≥1 μg/kg/min), the pigs were randomized into the conservative treatment group (control) or the VA-ECMO group (target flow 100 mL/kg/min). The time to develop refractory vasodilatory shock was similar in both groups (18.8 h in the ECMO group, 18.1 h in the control group). There was no difference between the groups in terms of time to death measured from the point of reaching the predefined vasopressor threshold (7.1 h for the ECMO group, 7.9 h for the control group). The initiation of ECMO resulted in a markedly increased fluid and vasopressor support. Although treatment with ECMO compromised neither renal nor carotid blood flow initially, both progressively decreased later during the experiment. The pattern of sepsis-induced multiorgan injury, alterations in energy metabolism, and the systemic inflammatory response were remarkably similar between both groups. In conclusion, the application of VA-ECMO in this model of peritonitis-induced refractory vasodilatory septic shock aggravated hemodynamic deterioration. Our findings contribute to increasing equipoise with respect to the clinical utility of VA-ECMO in refractory vasodilatory shock.

Background: Septic acute kidney injury affects 40-50% of all septic patients. Molecular differences between septic patients with and without acute kidney injury (AKI) are only poorly understood. Here, we investigated gene expression changes that differentiated the subjects who developed septic AKI from those who did not and coupled this approach with traditional parameters of renal physiology. Methods: In 15 anesthetized, mechanically ventilated and instrumented pigs, progressive sepsis was induced either by peritonitis or by continuous intravenous infusion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Animals received standard intensive care including goal-directed hemodynamic management. Analyses were performed on kidneys from sham operated animals, septic pigs without AKI, and pigs with septic AKI. Before, and at 12, 18 and 22 h of progressive sepsis, systemic and renal hemodynamics, cortex microcirculation and plasma IL-6 and TNF-α were measured. At 22 h whole kidney expression of pre-selected genes was analyzed by quantitative Real Time PCR. Results: Animals with septic AKI had systemic hemodynamic phenotype (normo-or hyperdynamic) comparable with non-AKI subjects, but demonstrated higher plasma levels of cytokines, an increase in renal vascular resistance and early fall in cortical microcirculatory blood flow. The genes whose expression discriminated septic AKI from non-AKI included Toll like receptor 4 (up-regulated 2.7-fold, P = 0.04); Cyclooxygenase-2 (up-regulated 14.6-fold, P = 0.01), Angiotensin II Receptor (up-regulated 8.1-fold, P = 0.01), Caspase 3 (up-regulated 5.1-fold, P = 0.02), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma, Coactivator 1 Alpha (down-regulated 2-fold, P = 0.02).