The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a hemodynamic resuscitation protocol guided by the Venous Return Gradient (Pmsf - CVP), measured via the non-invasive arm cuff technique, in reducing the incidence of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in patients with septic shock compared to standard care and to assess the precision and reproducibility of the non-invasive arm cuff Pmsf measurement in the septic shock population and to determine the correlation between the systemic Venous Return Gradient and the renal micro-circulatory Resistance Index (RRI).
Adult patients (Age 18 years or older) admitted to the Intensive Care Unit.
Primary diagnosis of Septic Shock defined according to the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis (Sepsis-3): Sepsis with persisting hypotension requiring vasopressors to maintain MAP 65 mmHg or greater and having a serum lactate level greater than 2 mmol/L despite adequate volume resuscitation.
Patients must be mechanically ventilated and sedated to ensure baseline hemodynamic stability.
Presence of an invasive arterial catheter and a central venous catheter.
Known pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD Stage 4 or 5) or patients on chronic renal replacement therapy.
Contraindications to arm cuff inflation, including upper limb trauma, -lymphedema, arteriovenous fistula, or peripheral vascular disease.
Severe valvular heart disease, specifically severe tricuspid regurgitation, which invalidates CVP interpretation.
Intra-abdominal hypertension (Intra-abdominal pressure greater than 15 mmHg) which mechanically alters venous return independent of blood volume.