Table 3.

Summary of the studies investigating the effects on the outcome of strategies using an assessment of preload responsiveness of critically ill patients

First author (year of publication)	Number of patients	Number of centres	Primary end-point	Effect of fluid administration*		Effect on mortality*		Other tested effects*
Chen [96]	82	1	Volume of fluids administered by days 3 and 5 and cumulative fluid balance by days 3 and 5	Fluid balance at Day-3	1 952 [48–5003] mL vs 3 124 [767–10103] mL, p = 0.20	In-hospital	56% vs. 49%, p = 0.51	Ventilator-free days	5.5 [0–12.25] days vs 5.5 [0–16.75] days, p =0 .05
								Need for renal replacement therapy	41.5% vs 39.0%, p = 0.82
								Vasopressor-free days	5.5 [0–10] days vs 5 [0–16] days, p = 0.84
Richard [97]	60	1	Duration of cardiovascular failure	Daily volume of fluids for volume expansion	383 (211 to 604) mL/day vs 917 (639 to 1,511) mL/day, p = 0.01	28-day	23% vs. 47%, p = 0.10	Time to shock resolution	2.0 (1.2 to 3.1) days vs 2.3 (1.4 to 5.6) days, p = 0.29
								Red cell transfusions	103 (0 to 183) mL vs 178 (82 to 304) mL, p = 0.04
								Ventilator-free days	14 [0–24] days vs 8 [0–21] days, p = 0.35
Douglas [95]	150	13	Positive fluid balance at 72 h or ICU discharge	Fluid balance at 72 h or ICU discharge	0.65 ± 2.85 L vs 2.02 ± 3.44 L, p = 0.02	30-day	20% vs. 21%, p = 0.42	Need for rate of renal replacement therapy	5.1% vs 17.5%, p = 0.04
								Need mechanical ventilation	17.7% ± 34.1%, p = 0.04

Results in the intervention arm are presented first, and results in the control arm second. P values <0.05 are indicated in bold.

ICU intensive care unit