Fluid Challenge in Intensive Care The FENICE II Study

Fluids are considered the primary treatment for critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), aiming to replace losses and or to enhance venous return, stroke volume, and consequently, cardiac output and tissue oxygen delivery. The modalities, volumes, and targets employed to titrate fluid therapy vary significantly in current clinical practice, as shown by the original FENICE study 10 years ago. FENICE studied how fluid challenges are given at the bedside. Very little is known about how this practice has changed since, how fluid administration (maintenance) is performed in general, and how the modality may impact outcomes. FENICE II is designed to explore these issues. Objectives: To provide a comprehensive global description of fluid administration modalities during the initial days of ICU admission and to explore any association between fluid administration characteristics and clinical outcomes. To describe the fluid challenge administration modality and appraise the use of variables and functional hemodynamic tests to guide bolus infusion.