Non-Invasive Cardiac Output Monitor (NICOM) for Goal-directed Fluid Resuscitation for Inpatients With Hypotension and/or Septic Shock

The Non-Invasive Cardiac Output Monitor (NICOM) is a non-invasive monitor capable of measuring cardiac output (CO) and cardiac index (CI), and stroke volume (SV) and stroke volume index (SVI) based on heart rate. Conceptually NICOM is a technology that utilizes a dynamic response characteristic in assessing the need for fluid administration, whereby SVI is measured before and after a fluid challenge with more fluid given only if SVI increases significantly with administered fluid. Dynamic response technologies are intended to replace older, "static" measures such as central venous pressure (CVP) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures (PCWP) which are single point measurements utilized to assess the need to administer fluid. The aim is to pilot and evaluate the effectiveness of using The Non-Invasive Cardiac Output Monitor (NICOM) technology for goal-directed fluid resuscitation in adult inpatients with sepsis associated acute hypotension and/or evidence of septic shock (Lactate \>= 4.0).