assessing septic patients with a noninvasive ultrasound protocol, and earlier identification of fluid overload to help clinicians decide whether to administer supplemental fluid therapy or suspend its administration and to evaluate the possible relation between the different VExUS grades and the adverse effects of intensive fluid administration
adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with the diagnosis of severe sepsis and clinical indication to be admitted in critical care units are recruited. Sepsis should be suspected to be the primary cause of their acute illness by the treating physician, consistent with the
Life-threatening organ dysfunction
Diagnosis of infection Some patients diagnosed with sepsis will not meet the criteria, but will be eligible for the study if the treating physician makes a clinical diagnosis of severe sepsis.
1. Refusal to participate 2. Patients in hemodialysis program 3. Patients with previously known conditions that interfere with portal Doppler assessments, namely liver cirrhosis, or severe tricuspid regurgitation with structural heart disease. If any of these conditions are identified during the present episode, the patient would also be excluded.