Table 1.
Baseline characteristics of the study population
| Characteristic | Value |
| Age (years) | 67.8 ± 13.8 |
| Male sex | 69% |
| Prior heart failure | 47% |
| APACHE II score | 21.8 ± 6.9 |
| Hemodynamics | |
| Cardiac index (l/min per m2) | 3.1 ± 1.4 |
| PCWP (mmHg) | 19.2 ± 7.1 |
| Shock origin | |
| Cardiaca | 57% |
| Septic/SIRS | 43% |
| Mechanical ventilation | 78% |
| Serum creatinine (mg/dl) | 1.80 (1.05–2.25) |
| Cardiac troponin T (ng/ml) | 0.19 (0.05–1.0) |
| Blood pHb | 7.33 ± 2.3 |
| BNP (pg/ml) | 482 (194–1340) |
| NT-proBNP (pg/ml) | 3046 (1074–16068) |
In total, 49 patients were included. Values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation, percentage, or median (25th–75th centile). aSeven patieints had hemodynamics consistent with cardiogenic shock, as defined in the text. bClosest measurement to time of pulmonary artery catheter placement. APACHE, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation; BNP, brain natriuretic peptide; NT-proBNP, amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide; PCWP, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure; SIRS, systemic inflammatory response syndrome.