Venous excess and lung ultrasound during continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients (VExLUS-RRT): a prospective observational study
Authors' conclusion
Systemic and pulmonary congestion assessed by multiorgan point-of-care ultrasound was associated with increased 90-day mortality in AKI patients receiving CRRT.
Study context
- Population
- Critically ill adults with acute kidney injury (AKI) undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT)enrolled
- Participants
- 100 adults
- Outcome
- Prevalence of venous congestion (VExUS or mVExUS Grade ≥2) and serial LUS score changes
- Follow-up
- Day 1 and 3
Methodological detailssingle-centre, prospective observational
- Single-centre
- Prospective observational
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Baseline venous congestion; LUS score · baseline
Venous congestion by venous excess ultrasound (VExUS) score
20%
Venous congestion by modified VExUS (mVExUS) scores
35%
Median lung ultrasound (LUS) score (IQR 1-9)
4
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
90-day mortality, hepatic vein Doppler Grade 2-3
| aHR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Hepatic vein Doppler Grade 2-3Time-updated Cox model adjusted for baseline SOFA | 1.78 (1.05–3.01) | P = 0.01 | |
| 0.20.5125Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
90-day mortality, higher LUS scores
| aHR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher LUS scoresTime-updated Cox model adjusted for baseline SOFA | 1.04 (1.001–1.08) | P = 0.04 | |
| 0.512Adjusted hazard ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Cumulative fluid balance by LUS change Day 1 to Day 3Unchanged or worsening LUS vs Improved LUS · significantly higher cumulative fluid balance | P = 0.01 |
90-day survival by baseline VExUS / mVExUS Grade 2-3
- Baseline VExUS Grade 2-3 associated with lower 90-day survival (Log rank)
- P = 0.049
- Baseline mVExUS Grade 2-3 associated with lower 90-day survival (Log rank)
- P = 0.01
Original publication
Venous excess and lung ultrasound during continuous renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients (VExLUS-RRT): a prospective observational study. Ann Intensive Care. Published 30 July 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →