Doppler ultrasonography and resistive index measurements may help determine in each patient the optimal MAP for renal blood flow and may be a relevant end-point to titrate the hemodynamic treatment in septic shock.

Purpose: To assess sublingual microcirculatory changes following passive leg raising (PLR) and volume expansion (VE) in septic patients. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in two university hospital intensive care units and included 25 mechanically ventilated patients with severe sepsis or septic shock who were eligible for VE in the first 24 h of their admission. Pulse pressure variation (DPP), cardiac output (CO) and sublingual microcirculation indices were assessed at five consecutive steps: (1) semirecumbent position (Baseline 1), (2) during PLR manoeuvre (PLR), (3) after returning to semi-recumbent position (Baseline 2), (4) at the time when VE induced the same degree of preload responsiveness as PLR (VE DPP = PLR ) and (5) at the end of VE (VE END ). At each step, five sublingual microcirculation sequences were acquired using sidestream darkfield imaging to assess functional capillary density (FCD), microcirculatory flow index (MFI), proportion of perfused vessels (PPV) and flow heterogeneity index (FHI). Results: The PLR, VE DPP = PLR and VE END induced a significant increase in CO and a significant decrease in DPP compared to Baseline 1 and Baseline 2 values. Both PLR and VE induced significant increases in FCD, MFI and PPV and a significant decrease in FHI compared to Baseline 1 and Baseline 2 values. Conclusions: In preload responsive severe septic patients examined within the first 24 h of their admission, both PLR and VE improved sublingual microcirculatory perfusion. At the level of volume infusion used in this study, these changes in sublingual microcirculation were not explained by changes in rheologic factors or changes in arterial pressure.

The objective of this study was to determine the predictive value of the renal resistive index (RI) and cystatin C values in serum (SCys) and urine (UCys) in the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients with severe sepsis or polytrauma. This was a prospective, double-center, descriptive study. There were 58 patients with severe sepsis (n= 28) or polytrauma (n = 30). Renal resistive index, SCys, and UCys were measured within 12 h following admission (day 1 [D1]) to the intensive care unit. Renal function was assessed using the AKI network classification: On day 3 (D3), 40 patients were at stage 0 or 1, and 18 were at stage 2 or 3. Patients with AKI stage 2 or 3 had significantly higher RI (0.80 vs. 0.66, P < 0.0001), SCys (1.23 vs. 0.68 mg/L, P = 0.0002), and UCys (3.32 vs. 0.09 mg/L, P = 0.0008). They also had higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, arterial lactate level, and intensive care unit mortality. In multivariate analysis, an RI of greater than 0.707 on D1 was the only parameter predictive of the development of AKI stage 2 or 3 on D3 (P = 0.0004). In the subgroup of patients with AKI stage 2 or 3 on D1, RI remained the only parameter associated with persistent AKI on D3 (P = 0.016). In multivariate analysis comparing the predictive value of RI, SCys, and UCys, RI was the only parameter predictive of AKI stage 2 or 3 on D3. Renal resistive index seems to be a promising tool to assess the risk of AKI.

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Despite our increasing ability to support vital organs and resuscitate patients, the morbidity and mortality of acute kidney injury (AKI) remain high in the intensive care unit (ICU). The ability to predict the occurrence of AKI is crucial for the development of preventive strategies. Early diagnosis of AKI requires markers that are sensitive and easily applicable in clinical practice. The use of Doppler ultrasonography to assess renal perfusion is increasing in many kidney diseases and in the ICU. The Doppler-based renal resistive index, which is a simple, rapid, noninvasive, and repeatable marker, could be a promising tool to prematurely detect the patients most at risk of developing AKI in the ICU and to distinguish transient from persistent AKI. Moreover, the resistive index could also be useful to adjust preventive or therapeutic modalities for the kidney perfusion at the bedside. The recent progress in ultrasound with contrast-enhanced ultrasound gives the opportunity to assess not only the kidney macrocirculation but also the kidney microcirculation in the ICU.

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Medial canthus single-injection peribulbar anesthesia appears to be an effective alternative to the usual double-injection peribulbar anesthesia.