Fluid management based on renal function considerations

Intravenous fluid administration is one of the most commonly used interventions in acutely ill patients. Almost all hospitalized patients receive intravenous fluids for either volume resuscitation or as diluents for drug administration. However, recent studies suggest that fluid overload is associated with acute kidney injury and that fluid administration beyond the volume needed to correct the fluid deficit is associated with increased morbidity, longer hospital stays, and mortality. The exact cause and effect underlying this association remains uncertain. Previous studies have reported a correlation between fluid overload and mortality in critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute lung injury, sepsis, and acute kidney injury. In patients with acute kidney injury, a higher percentage of fluid overload has been associated with higher mortality and shorter ventilator-free days starting during the initial management in the intensive care unit. Similarly, in a large multicenter study, a positive fluid balance was an important factor associated with increased 60-day mortality in patients with acute kidney injury. This review analyzes the use of intravenous fluids and renal function, including types of intravenous fluid, cumulative fluid targets, endpoint hemodynamic indicators, and renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury.


bAsic principles
Clinicians use intravenous (IV) fluid in clinical practice for three main reasons: to correct volume deficits, to replace electrolytes lost, and to maintain hemodynamic stability and tissue perfusion.The type of patient generally dictates different targets for fluid management; important factors include hydration sta tus, compartmental distribution, and composition of the solution.Fluid distribution is a dynamic process in the human body.3][4][5] Wang et al. analyzed the outcomes of 2526 patients admitted to 30 intensive care units in China and reported that fluid overload was an independent risk factor for the development of AKI and increased the severity of AKI.A higher cumu lative fluid balance was an important factor associated with 28-day mortality following AKI. 6 evaluate body fluid status and optimize fluid bal ance in specific group of patients, such as heart failure patients, and patients in the ICU, the use of bioelectri cal impedance analysis (BIA), bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA), and bioelectrical phase angle (PhA) have been studied.Bioelectrical impedance test ing can estimate body composition and detects soft tissue hydration with a 2-3% measurement error.This noninvasive test transforms electrical properties of tis sues into clinical information.Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis measures whole body fluid volume and is based on patterns of the resistance-reactance graph, relating body impedance to body hydration.Clinical information on hydration is obtained through patterns of vector distribution in comparison to patients of the same race, gender, body mass index, and age.Changes in tissue hydration status below 500 ml are detected and ranked. 7Chung et al. found that the use of BIA for volume status estimation is an easy and safe method for critical ill patients after surgery, and that ove rhydration with extracellular water ratio >0.390 on day 3 after operation was related to postoperative morbid ity and in-hospital mortality occurrence. 8A systematic review with meta-analysis by Lima et al. revealed that a low bioelectrical phase angle was associated with ICU length of stay (difference of 1.79 days) and mor tality (increased risk of 1.89 times) while overhydration measured by BIVA was not associated with risk of death in critically ill patients. 9

type of fluid: crystAlloid vs colloid
Fluid administration is a ubiquitous management strategy in medicine.The basic principles of fluid administration and distribution must be taken into consider ation every time IV fluid is given to patients.Colloids will more than likely stay in the plasma volume for a longer period of time than crystalloids or dextrose solutions. 10However, the physiological distribution of IV fluid is altered in diseased patients.Endothelial permeability is poorly understood during disease pro cesses; an injured endothelial glycocalyx likely affects fluid distribution not only by the specific disease pro cess but also by the type of fluid administered.Some of the best characterized examples are septic patients who received intravenous albumin; when followed over time in comparison to healthy subjects, albumin seems to remain in the intravascular space for less time and to extravasate faster. 11,12multicenter, randomized controlled open labeled trial, Therapy in the Colloids Versus Crystalloids for the Resuscitation of the Critically Ill (CRISTAL), recruited 2857 ICU patients from February 2003 to August 2012, published in 2013, found that in ICU patients with hypovolemia, the use of colloids vs crystalloids did not result in a significant difference in 28-day mortal ity.However, the 90-day mortality was lower in patients receiving colloids.13 In 2013, in a meta-analysis with 38 clinical trials with more than nine thousand patients, there was an association of the use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) as the resuscitation IV fluid of choice with an increased risk of AKI (relative risk (RR) = 1.27; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-1.47)and mortality (RR = 0.07; 95% CI 1.00-1.14) in ICU patients.14 More recently, the FLASH (Fluid loading in abdominal surgery: saline vs hydroxyethyl starch), a multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group, randomized con trolled trial, published in 2020, with 775 surgical adult patients, reported no benefit in mortality outcomes when using the colloid solution and more kidney dys function within 14 days after surgery when HES vs. crystalloid IV fluid was used (22% vs 16%, RR = 1.34; 95% CI 1.00-1.80;P = 0.05).15 Consequently, the use of colloid fluid provides no mortality benefit to patients and possibly increases the risk for acute kidney injury.

type of crystAlloid: lActAted ringer's versus normAl sAline
The two most commonly used crystalloids to hydrate or resuscitate patients in the clinical setting are normal saline and balanced solutions like lactated Ringer's solution.7][18][19] In recent randomized trials, lactated Ringer's was superior to normal saline in resolution of DKA (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 1.68; 95% CI 1.18-2.38;P = 0.004). 16spite promising results in DKA patients, it appears that in other critical care patients without DKA, the superiority of lactated Ringer's to normal saline may be less clear.In a multi-randomized clin ical trial in critically ill patients in 75 ICUs in Brazil, which included 10,520 patients, there was no statisti cally significant difference between lactated Ringer's solution and normal saline and mortality rates (aHR = 0.97; 95% CI 0.90-1.05;P = 0.47). 20Similarly, there was no statistically significance in 30-day in-hospital mortality in the balanced crystalloid group in compari son to the saline group during the ICU-only period, but there might be a beneficial effect of balanced crystal loid primarily during management in the Emergency Department and ICU (odds ratio (OR) = 0.68; 95% CI 0.52-0.89;P = 0.07). 21More recently, the multi center PLUS Trial (Balanced Multi-electrolyte Solution Versus Saline in Critically Ill Adults) in Australia and New Zealand randomized 5,037 patients to either balanced electrolyte solutions or normal saline and found that at 90 days there was no difference in mor tality (OR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.8-1.14)or renal outcomes (OR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.83-1.16). 22veral studies showed that the intravenous administration of balanced crystalloids rather than saline had a favorable effect on the composite out come of death, new renal-replacement therapy, or persistent renal dysfunction.In a cluster-randomized, multiple-crossover trial, conducted in five intensive care units at an academic center, 15,802 adults received normal saline or balanced crystalloids (lac tated Ringer's solution or Plasma-Lyte A).In the 7942 patients in the balanced crystalloids arm, 1139 (14.3%) had a major adverse kidney event; 1211 of 7860 patients (15.4%) in the saline arm (OR = 0.91; 95% CI 0.84-0.99;P = 0.04).In-hospital mortality at 30 days, the incidence of new renal replacement ther apy and the incidence of persistent renal dysfunction were lower but not significantly different in the bal anced crystalloid group. 23 patients undergoing elective orthopedic or colo rectal surgery in the SOLAR TRIAL, 8,616 patients were included; 4,187 (49%) were assigned to lactated Ringer's solution, and 4,429 (51%) were assigned to saline.Each group received a median 1.9 liters (L) of fluid.There were no important differences in postop erative complications with lactated Ringer's or saline volume replacement.Therefore, either solution can be used during the intraoperative management of patients. 24However, in non-critically ill hospitalized patients, lactated Ringer's solution was associated with lower rates of major adverse kidney events (new renal replacement therapy, death from any causes, persistent renal dysfunction) in comparison to normal saline (4.7% vs. 5.6%; adjusted OR = 0.82; 95% CI 0.70-0.95;P = 0.01), but the difference in hospital free-days was not significant (OR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.92-1.04;P = 0.41). 25 conclusion, the use of IV balanced crystalloids seems to have a favorable effect on the composite outcome of mortality, new renal-replacement therapy, or persistent renal dysfunction; however, mortality benefit in balanced crystalloids has mostly been seen outside the ICUs.More studies should be done with larger cohorts of critically ill patients to determine if there might be a statistically significant effect that may have an impact in this clinical setting.

cumulAtive fluid tArgets
Targeting lower cumulative fluid balance in an attempt to change outcomes in critically ill patients is not a new idea.Albumin, for example, has been administered concurrently with crystalloid fluid in order to lower cumulative fluid balance.In 2014, Caironi et al. randomized more than 1800 patients with severe sepsis to receive either crystalloid solutions or 20% albumin and crystalloids with the intention of providing adequate intravascular and oncotic volume.Although the daily and mean cumulative fluid balance was lower in the albumin group than in the crystalloid-only group (347 mL vs. 1220 mL, P = 0.004), there was no differ ence in the rate of AKI (P = 0.11) or the need for renal replacement therapy (P = 0.71). 26The result showed that adding albumin does not improve kidney out comes even though the cumulative fluid balance was significantly lower.
Neyra et al. recruited 2,632 adult ICU patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, including 1,211 with chronic kidney disease and found that every 1-L increase in cumulative fluid balance at 72 hours of ICU admission was independently associated with hospital mortality in all patients (adjusted OR = 1.06; 95% CI 1.04-1.08;P < 0.001), and in each AKI/chronic kid ney disease (CKD) subgroup.There was a significant interaction between AKI and CKD and cumulative fluid balance (p = 0.005), and different cumulative fluid bal ance cut-offs with the best prognostic accuracy for hos pital mortality were identified, including 5.9 L for AKI patients with underlying CKD; 3.8 L for CKD patients with no AKI; 4.3 L for AKI patients with no underlying CKD; and 1.5 L for patients without AKI or CKD.This The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2024;12(50):8-15 study showed that higher cumulative fluid balances at 72 hours of ICU admission were independently asso ciated with hospital mortality regardless of AKI or CKD status. 27e CLASSIC (conservative vs. liberal approach to fluid therapy of septic shock in the intensive care unit) trial focused specifically on the effect of the amount intravenous volume given by allocating 151 septic shock patients undergoing resuscitation to receive either a restricted approach and found signif icant differences in the amount of fluid given during the resuscitation efforts (P < 0.001), but no difference in the total cumulative balance during the ICU stay (P = 0.6).They also reported a significant reduction in worsening AKI in the fluid restriction group (P = 0.03), but no difference in mortality outcomes (P = 0.32). 28In comparison, in 2023 the CLOVERS Trial (Crystalloid Liberal or Vasopressors Early Resuscitation in Sepsis) randomized 1,563 adults with sepsis and hypotension to receive in the first 24 hours of resuscitation either a liberal fluid resuscitation approach or a restricted fluid approach with the addition of early vasopressors to control the blood pressure.At 90-days they found no difference in mortality (P = 0.61), days free from venti lator use at day 28 (difference, 0.6; 95% CI-0.4-1.6), or days free from renal replacement therapy (difference, 0.2; 95% CI-0.8-1.2). 29 In contrast, in 2018, the restrictive fluid approach was studied in the RELIF (restrictive versus liberal fluid therapy for major abdominal surgery) trial of 3000 patients undergoing major abdominal surgery.This trial showed that a restricted approach to IV fluid was associated with more AKI events than the liberal IV fluid regimen (8.6% vs. 5.0%, P < 0.001). 30e differences in these study results have increased the uncertainty about the best IV fluid reg imen, and it remains unclear how much IV fluid criti cally ill patients should receive for optimal outcomes.Nevertheless, IV fluids need to be managed like any other prescription drugs.They are composed of differ ent solvents and solutes and can be dosed in several different ways.When put in perspective, one liter of normal saline contains 154 mmol of sodium, which equals 9 grams of table salt, more than 2-3 times the daily recommended requirements.It has been documented in the literature that critically ill patients in the ICU might gain as much as 12 L of body water during the resuscitation period, requiring up to 3 weeks to excrete the positive fluid balance. 31

WhAt is the best endpoint?
Several studies have tried to determine the best hemodynamic indicator of AKI in the setting of criti cally ill patients such as those in septic shock.Most hemodynamic indicators, including mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), are not associated with higher rates of AKI.Among these studies, a ret rospective study done in 137 ICU septic patients in 2006 that evaluated the previously mentioned param eters only demonstrated an association between AKI and higher central venous pressure (CVP) in septic shock patients suggesting renal venous congestion as a mechanism for disease. 32However, a study done in vasopressor-dependent cardiovascular surgery patients did note a significant association between decreased MAP (P = 0.027), mean perfusion pres sure (MPP) (P = 0.023), DPP (P = 0.002) and AKI. 33 a recent study in 2023, the prospective obser vational FINNAKI study that included 423 patients found that patients with progression of AKI had signif icantly lower time-adjusted MAP, 74.4 mmHg [68.3-80.8],than those without progression, 78.6 mmHg [72.9-85.4],P < 0.001.A cutoff value of 73 mmHg for time-adjusted MAP best predicted the progression to AKI.CKD, higher lactate levels, higher doses of furo semide, the use of dobutamine, and time-adjusted MAP below 73 mmHg were independent predictors of progression of AKI. 34

volume excess And Acute kidney injury
Fluid accumulation in critically ill patients can have significant adverse consequences.A positive fluid bal ance, volume excess, and peripheral edema translate into internal organ edema (Table 1). 35Organ perfusion pressure requires adequate blood volume, cardiac output (CO), and venous drainage.Venous conges tion impairs venous drainage and leads to organ dys function.Perfusion pressure is equivalent to arterial pressure minus (compartment pressure plus venous pressure).Abdominal perfusion pressure (APP), which is MAP minus the intra-abdominal pressure, helps us understand how various complications, such as the abdominal compartment syndrome develop.Ongoing research has also shown that targeting an APP of more than 60 mmHg during resuscitation seems to improve organ function.MPP is equivalent to MAP minus CVP, which exemplifies how organ flow factors into venous pressure.Fluid resuscitation or fluid excess will increase CVP, which may be harmful in some patients.[38] Multiple studies have shown that excess fluid in ICU patients is an independent risk factor for the incidence of AKI and that cumulative positive fluid balance increases the risk of mortality.[41][42][43][44]

Acquired Aki: WhAt is the best definition thAt hAs clinicAl consequences?
Acute kidney injury is defined as a deterioration of renal function in a period between 6 hours and 7 days.
According to KDIGO guidelines, it is defined by at least an increase in 50% of creatinine measurements in 7 days, 0.3 g/dL in 48 hours, or oliguria (<0.5 mL/kg/ hour) for at least 4 hours. 45In a study of 178 children, elevated neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipoca lin (NGAL) in comparison to elevated creatinine has been associated with increased risk of AKI at day 3 and an increased risk of AKI by four-fold, in compari son to patients with elevation of creatinine. 46creases and increases in serial creatinine measurements have been associated with the recov ery and development of AKI, respectively.In a study done in 63 patients, a decreased in cystatin was associated with faster recovery of AKI in comparison to decline in creatinine measurements. 47AKI tends to affect the tubules, while creatinine and urinary out put are measurements that predicts glomerular func tion, which may not be altered until advanced tubular injury has occurred. 47Also, it tends to underpredict AKI in patients with low muscle mass or receiving IV fluid. 47

time frAme for de-escAlAtion And the use of renAl replAcement therApy
The evolving conceptual models of resuscitation include four different phases: rescue, optimization, sta bilization, and de-escalation.Early resuscitation and stabilization are key strategies for survival in critically ill patients. 48The later phase of de-escalation becomes challenging as it is at this point when the patients have developed renal dysfunction and fluid overload.The management will mainly include pharmacolog ical measures vs. extracorporeal measures or renal replacement therapy (RRT).Diuretics, as pharmaco logical measures, are widely used, non-invasive, less predictable, and have a risk of delay/failure to respond.Renal replacement therapy is invasive, requires spe cialist expertise, and may have unexpected outcomes, but allows controlled and predictable removal of plasma water and solutes.
Earlier institution of RRT in critically ill patients with AKI may improve survival.Better outcomes in patients treated with RRT were observed when RRT was started early in the course of the ICU stay.In the Payen study, 3,147 patients were included; 1,120 (36%) had AKI at some point during their ICU stay.Sixty-day mortality rates were 36% in patients with AKI and 16% in patients without AKI (P < 0.01).Oliguric patients and patients treated with RRT had higher 60-day mortality rates than patients without oliguria or the need for RRT (41% versus 33% and 52% ver sus 32%, respectively; P < 0.01). 4Consequently, the development of AKI has important effects on the out comes in critically ill patients.
In a systematic review and meta-analysis published in 2011, with 15 studies, early compared with late RRT therapy was associated with a significant improvement in 28-day mortality (OR = 0.45; 95% CI 0.28-0.72).A subset of studies reported secondary outcomes; five studies (out of seven) reported greater renal recov ery, seven (out of eight) studies reported decreased duration of RRT, and five (out of six) studies reported decreased ICU length of stay in the early, compared with the late RRT group.Early RRT did not significantly affect the odds of dialysis dependence beyond hospi talization (OR = 0.62; 95% CI 0.34-1.13,I 2 = 69.6%). 49conclusion There is no question that excess IV fluid adminis tration and net positive cumulative fluid balance can be harmful, and evidence suggests a correlation between them and increased renal dysfunction in hospitalized patients and critically ill patients.IV fluid requirements must be addressed continuously with titration and de-escalation based on continuously changing require ments, patient assessment, and homeostasis.Organ perfusion remains the goal of resuscitation when man aging patients with failing circulations.Blood pressure determines the blood flow distribution but does not define the state of shock or the adequacy of circulation.There is no gold-standard test to determine organ per fusion and fluid status, and the clinician needs to use the different static (e.g., physical examination, CVP, CO, arterial wave analysis) and/or dynamic (e.g., pas sive leg raising, IV fluid responses, ventilatory changes) hemodynamic monitors available to assess the ade quacy of perfusion.(Table 2).The use of bioelectrical impedance analysis, bioelectrical impedance vector analysis, and bioelectrical phase angle may be useful in the evaluation of body fluid status and help optimize fluid balance in specific groups of patients.The most recent study showed a cut-off value of 73 mmHg for time-adjusted MAP best predicted the progression of AKI, suggesting that her routine blood pressure meas urements can provide important information.
It is challenging to determine the optimal timing to begin de-escalation of IV fluid.Clinical and hemo dynamic support stability might be the starting point, and mobilization of fluids with diuretics or mechanical therapies, such as renal replacement therapy to opti mize the cumulative fluid balance needs to be con sidered, but restricting the fluid balance may provide better outcomes.
Article citation: Motes A, Nugent K, Pena C. Fluid management based on renal function considerations.The Southwest Respiratory and Critical Care Chronicles 2024;12(50):8-15 From: Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas Submitted: 12/31/2023 Accepted: 1/12/2024 Conflicts of interest: none This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.