Published in:
Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research
No agreement of mixed venous and central venous saturation in sepsis, independent of sepsis origin
Published in: Critical Care | Issue 6/2010
Login to get accessAbstract
Introduction
Controversy remains regarding the relationship between central venous saturation (ScvO2) and mixed venous saturation (SvO2) and their use and interchangeability in patients with sepsis or septic shock. We tested the hypothesis that ScvO2 does not reliably predict SvO2 in sepsis. Additionally we looked at the influence of the source (splanchnic or non-splanchnic) of sepsis on this relationship.
Methods
In this prospective observational two-center study we concurrently determined ScvO2 and SvO2 in a group of 53 patients with severe sepsis during the first 24 hours after admission to the intensive care units in 2 Dutch hospitals. We assessed correlation and agreement of ScvO2 and SvO2, including the difference, i.e. the gradient, between ScvO2 and SvO2 (ScvO2 - SvO2). Additionally, we compared the mean differences between ScvO2 and SvO2 of both splanchnic and non-splanchnic group.
Results
A total of 265 paired blood samples were obtained. ScvO2 overestimated SvO2 by less than 5% with wide limits of agreement. For changes in ScvO2 and SvO2 results were similar. The distribution of the (ScvO2 - SvO2) (< 0 or ≥ 0) was similar in survivors and nonsurvivors. The mean (ScvO2 - SvO2) in the splanchnic group was similar to the mean (ScvO2 - SvO2) in the non-splanchnic group (0.8 ± 3.9% vs. 2.5 ± 6.2%; P = 0.30). O2ER (P = 0.23) and its predictive value for outcome (P = 0.20) were similar in both groups.
Conclusions
ScvO2 does not reliably predict SvO2 in patients with severe sepsis. The trend of ScvO2 is not superior to the absolute value in this context. A positive difference (ScvO2 - SvO2) is not associated with improved outcome.