Association Between Intravenous Fluid Resuscitation and Hospital Mortality in Post Cardiac Arrest Patients: A Retrospective Study

Objective: To assess the role for intravenous fluid (IVF) resuscitation in the postarrest state. Primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge and 30-day mortality. Secondary outcomes were associations with amount of vasopressor use and mechanical ventilation days. Design: Retrospective study design. Setting: Single-center tertiary hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Patients: All patients admitted to the intensive care unit between 2018 and 2019. Interventions: Patients were divided into two groups based on amount of IVF received within 24 h <30 mL/kg (restricted) and over 30 mL/kg (liberal). Measurements and Main Results: A total of 264 patients were included in the study, with 200 included in the restrictive (<30 mL/kg) group and 64 included in the liberal (>30 mg/kg) group. There was no difference in 30-day mortality between the two groups with 146 (73%) deaths in the restrictive groups and 44 (69%) deaths in the liberal group (P = 0.53). There was also no significant difference between those who survived to hospital discharge in the liberal and restrictive groups on Kaplan-Meier analysis (Log-rank = 1.476 P = 0.224). However, there was a significant difference between restrictive and liberal groups with the duration of mechanical ventilation (4 +/- 6 days vs. 6 +/- 9 days; P = 0.03) and in the rates of two or more vasopressor use (38% vs. 59%; P = 0.002). End-stage renal disease (ESRD) (OR = 2.39; P = 0.03) and volume of fluids in mL/kg/24 h (OR = 1.025; P < 0.0001) were independently associated with higher vasopressor need. Volume of fluid in mL/kg/24 h (P = 0.01), ESRD (P = 0.015), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = 0.04) were significantly associated with duration of mechanical ventilation, even after adjusting for demographic factors, comorbidities, and mortality. Conclusions: A liberal strategy of IVF used in resuscitation after cardiac arrest is not associated with higher mortality. However, it predicts higher vasopressor use and duration of mechanical ventilation.