The Association between Daily Fluid Balance and Mean Perfusion Pressure as a Critical Sign in the Intensive Care Unit of Adam Malik Central Hospital, Medan

BACKGROUND: The patient mortality rate in intensive care unit (ICU) is still high. However, we still lack measures to reduce this high mortality rate. Fluid balance is known as a marker for mortality in ICU. If the balance of fluid becomes more positive, the mortality rate consequently becomes higher. Positive fluid balance elevates central venous pressure (CVP), while this elevation increases the risk of renal failure and mortality. Mean perfusion pressure (MPP) is the difference between mean arterial pressure and CVP. AIM: We propose that the MPP value can be used as an alternative indicator to monitor excessive fluid balance since its measurement is faster and more accurate than the manual 24 h record of fluid balance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is expected that we can prevent excessive fluid accumulation and the subsequent mortality risk by monitoring MPP in the ICU. To investigate the association between MPP and daily fluid balance in the ICU, a prospective study was conducted from March 2016 to August 2018 in the ICU of Adam Malik Hospital, Medan. During the study period, 76 patients were admitted. Sixty-point 5% were male, with the mean age of 48.3 ± 16.5 years old. RESULTS: The overall mortality of 76 patients was 10.5%, and there was a significant negative correlation found between MPP and fluid balance (r = −0.204; p = 0.048), where a lower MPP value was associated with a more positive fluid balance. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that there is a negative correlation between MPP and fluid balance, where a more positive fluid balance is associated with a lower MPP value. The positive fluid balance had been previously associated with increased mortality risk in the ICU.