Effect of large volume replacement with balanced electrolyte solutions on extravascular lung water in surgical patients with sepsis syndrome.

We investigated the effect of large volume replacement with balanced electrolyte solutions on extravascular lung water (EVLW) in 16 adult surgical patients with sepsis syndrome. Patients entered the study within the 24 h period following surgical interventions for acute necrotizing pancreatitis, intra-abdominal abscesses, and/or peritonitis. Sequential measurements (n = 108) were made at intervals of 6-12 h over a 48 h period. There were no significant differences between initial and final values of thermal-dye EVLW (5.0 +/- 1.1 vs. 5.7 +/- 1.1 ml/kg), plasma colloid osmotic pressure (COP, 13.3 +/- 2.5 vs. 13.2 +/- 2.9 mmHg), pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP, 9.2 +/- 3.0 vs. 10.8 +/- 3.0 mmHg), and COP-PAWP gradient (4.0 +/- 3.5 vs. 2.4 +/- 3.9 mmHg). All results expressed as (mean +/- SD). The EVLW did not correlate with plasma COP, PAWP, or COP-PAWP gradient. We conclude that large volume replacement with balanced electrolyte solutions with the secondary decrease in plasma COP and COP-PAWP gradient do not necessarily contribute to a substantial increase in EVLW. This study fails to show any causal relationship between decrease in plasma COP or COP-PAWP gradient and oedema formation in the lung.