Tight control of mean arterial pressure using a closed loop system for norepinephrine infusion after high-risk abdominal surgery: a randomized controlled trial

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses frequently manually titrate norepinephrine to maintain a predefined mean arterial pressure (MAP) target after high-risk surgery. However, achieving this task is often suboptimal. We have developed a closed-loop vasopressor (CLV) controller to better maintain MAP within a narrow range. After ethical committee approval, fifty-three patients admitted to the ICU following high-risk abdominal surgery were randomized to CLV or manual norepinephrine titration. In both groups, the aim was to maintain MAP in the predefined target of 80–90 mmHg. Fluid administration was standardized in the two groups using an advanced hemodynamic monitoring device. The primary outcome of our study was the percentage of time patients were in the MAP target. Over the 2-hour study period, the percentage of time with MAP in target was greater in the CLV group than in the control group (median: IQR25–75: 80 [68–88]% vs. 42 [22–65]%), difference 37.2, 95% CI (23.0–49.2); p < 0.001). Percentage time with MAP under 80 mmHg (1 [0–5]% vs. 26 [16–75]%, p < 0.001) and MAP under 65 mmHg (0 [0–0]% vs. 0 [0–4]%, p = 0.017) were both lower in the CLV group than in the control group. The percentage of time with a MAP > 90 mmHg was not statistically different between groups. In patients admitted to the ICU after high-risk abdominal surgery, closed-loop control of norepinephrine infusion better maintained a MAP target of 80 to 90 mmHg and significantly decreased postoperative hypotensive when compared to manual norepinephrine titration.