Introduction:

Since microvascular blood flow alterations were documented in patients with septic shock, numerous studies over the years have established the prognostic impact of these alterations in this group of patients.

Material and methods:

A cohort, ambispective, longitudinal, descriptive and analytical study was performed in patients with a diagnosis of septic shock admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the period from June 15, 2015 to July 30, 2018. Patients were classified on admission in those with SvcO2 ≥ 80% (hyperdynamic septic shock) and those with SvcO2 < 80% (normodynamic septic shock). The following tissue perfusion variables were used: lactate, Δp(v-a)CO2, Δp(v-a)CO2/Δ(a-v)O2 and ERO2. All statistical analyzes were done with the SPSSTM 22.0 program.

Results:

In the period considered, 82 patients met the inclusion criteria, 60 of which (73.1%) were classified as in normodynamic shock status and 22 (26.9%) as hyperdynamic. The multivariate analysis reported the ERO2 with OR 20,373 (95% CI: 2.451-169.320, p = 0.005), the lactate with OR 0.533 (95% CI: 0.146-1.948, p = 0.341), the Δ(va)CO2 with OR 4.848 (95% CI: 1.201-19.565, p = 0.027) and Δ(va)CO2/Δ(av)O2 with OR 0.276 (95% CI: 0.058-1.309, p = 0.105).

Conclusion:

Patients with septic shock have alterations of tissue perfusion and microcirculation; these alterations will not depend on their hemodynamic state (hyperdynamia or normodynamia). With an arterial blood gas analysis and a central venous blood gas analysis, we can assess tissue perfusion and microcirculation, measuring variables such as lactate, Δp(v-a)CO2, Δp(v-a)CO2/Δ(a-v)O2 and ERO2 without the need for sophisticated devices.