Seven-day and In-hospital Mortality According to Left and Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients With Septic Shock

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Septic cardiomyopathy's prognostic significance remains unclear.
• Evaluating serial changes in ventricular function is crucial for septic shock management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess serial changes in left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function in septic shock patients.
• To determine the prognostic value of these changes on 7-day and in-hospital mortality.

Main Methods:

• Transthoracic echocardiography performed within 48 hours and 7 days post-septic shock diagnosis.
• Assessment of LV and RV function using global longitudinal strain (GLS) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE).

Main Results:

• 162 patients enrolled; 7-day mortality was 14.9%, in-hospital mortality was 39.8%.
• Initial GLS >-16% and APACHE II score predicted 7-day mortality.
• Follow-up TAPSE <16 mm predicted in-hospital mortality in 7-day survivors.

Conclusions:

• Ventricular function fluctuates commonly in septic shock.
• GLS predicts short-term (7-day) mortality, while TAPSE predicts longer-term (in-hospital) mortality in survivors.