BackgroundIn patients ventilated with tidal volume (Vt) <8 mL/kg, pulse pressure variation (PPV) and, likely, the distensibility of the inferior vena cava diameter (IVCV) are unable to detect preload responsiveness. In this condition, passive leg raising (PLR) could be used but it requires a measurement of cardiac output. The tidal volume (Vt) challenge (PPV changes induced by a 1-min increase in Vt from 6 to 8 mL/kg) is another alternative, but it requires an arterial line. We tested whether, in case of Vt=6mL/kg, the effects of PLR could be assessed through changes in PPV or in IVCV rather than changes in cardiac output, and whether the effects of the Vt challenge could be assessed by changes in IVCV rather than changes in PPV.MethodsIn 30 critically ill patients without spontaneous breathing and cardiac arrhythmias, ventilated with Vt=6 mL/kg, we measured cardiac index (CI) (PiCCO2), IVCV and PPV before/during a PLR test and before/during a Vt challenge. A PLR-induced increase in CI ≥10% defined preload responsiveness.ResultsAt baseline, IVCV was not different between preload responders (n=15) and non-responders. Compared to non-responders, PPV and IVCV decreased more during PLR (by -38±16% and -26±28%, respectively) and increased more during the Vt challenge (by 64±42% and 91±72%, respectively) in responders. ∆PPVPLR, expressed either as absolute or percent relative changes, detected preload responsiveness (area under the receiver operating curve, AUROC: 0.98±0.02 for both). ∆IVCVPLR detected preload responsiveness only when expressed in absolute changes (AUROC: 0.76±0.10), not in relative changes. ∆PPVVt, expressed as absolute or percent relative changes, detected preload responsiveness (AUROC: 0.98±0.02 and 0.94±0.04, respectively). This was also the case for ∆IVCVVt but, the diagnostic threshold (1 point or 4%) was below the least significant change of IVCV (9[3-18]%).ConclusionsDuring mechanical ventilation with Vt=6 mL/kg, the effects of PLR can be assessed by changes in PPV. If IVCV is used, it should be expressed in percent and not in absolute changes. The effects of the Vt challenge can be assessed on PPV, but not on IVCV, since the diagnostic threshold is too small with regards to the reproducibility of this variable.Trial registrationIDRCB: 2016-A00893-48