High mixed venous oxygen saturation levels do not exclude fluid responsiveness in critically ill septic patients.

The aim of the study was to determine whether the degree of fluid responsiveness in critically ill septic patients is related to baseline mixed venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) levels. We also sought to define whether fluid responsiveness would be less likely in the presence of a high SvO2 (>70%). METHODS: This observational study was conducted in a 32-bed, university hospital medico-surgical intensive care unit (ICU). The hemodynamic response to a fluid challenge was evaluated in 65 critically ill patients with severe sepsis. Patients were divided into two groups (responders and non-responders) according to their cardiac index (CI) response to the challenge (>or < 10%). The response of septic patients to a fluid challenge is independent of baseline SvO2. The presence of a high SvO2 does not necessarily exclude the need for further fluid administration.