Early echocardiographic assessment of cardiac function may be prognostically informative in unresuscitated patients...

The goal of this study was to explore the association cardiac function at Emergency Department (ED) presentation prior to the initiation of resuscitation, and its change at 3-hours, with adverse outcomes in patients with sepsis.

This was a prospective observational study of patients presenting to an urban ED with suspected sepsis. Patients had a point-of-care echocardiogram performed prior to initiation of resuscitation and again 3 hours later. Left-ventricular (LV) parameters recorded included e', and E/e', and ejection fraction (EF); right-ventricular (RV) function was evaluated using tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). Logistic and generalized linear regression were used to assess the association of echocardiographic parameters and ≥ 2-point increase in SOFA score at 24 hours (primary outcome) and 24-hours SOFA score and in-hospital mortality (secondary outcomes).

For ΔSOFA ≥ 2 and 24-hour SOFA score, declining LVEF was associated with better outcomes in patients with greater baseline SOFA scores, but worse outcomes in patients with lower baseline scores. A similar relationship was found for ΔTAPSE at 3 hours. Reduced LVEF at presentation was associated with increased mortality after adjusting for ED SOFA score (odds-ratio (OR) 0.76 (CI 0.60-0.96). No relationship between diastolic parameters and outcomes was found. IVF administration was similar across ΔLVEF/TAPSE sub-groups.

Our results suggest that early change in LV and RV systolic function are independently prognostic of sepsis illness severity at 24-hours. Further study is needed to determine if this information can be used to guide treatment and improve outcomes.