High central venous oxygen saturation in the latter stages of septic shock is associated with increased mortality

We retrospectively analyzed data from all admissions to our ICU between January 2008 and December 2009. All septic shock patients in whom the ScvO2 was measured were included. The measures of ScvO2max within the first 72 hours after the onset of shock were collected.A total of 1,976 patients were screened and 152 (7.7%) patients met the inclusion criteria. The level of ScvO2max was 85% (78 to 89) in the non-survivors, compared with 79% (72 to 87) in the survivors (P = 0.009).Our findings raise concerns about high levels of ScvO2 in patients with septic shock. This may reflect the severity of the shock with an impaired oxygen use. Future strategies may target an optimization of tissue perfusion in this specific subgroup of patients.Shock is characterized by either an inadequacy between tissue requirements in oxygen and oxygen delivery or the inadequate use of oxygen. The hemodynamic management of patients in shock aims at improving tissue oxygenation. Central venous blood saturation in oxygen (ScvO2) is a useful tool reflecting the global transport and metabolism of oxygen. International guidelines suggest the need to optimize ScvO2 in the early phase of management of severe sepsis and septic shock [1].Low levels reflect (i) an inadequate cardiac output with an excessive extraction of oxygen [2], (ii) a low hemoglobin concentration, and/or (iii) a low level of arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2). In contrast, high levels of ScvO2 means either (i) a very high oxygen delivery in excess of tissue requirements and/or (ii) decreased cellular consumption of oxygen (mitochondrial dysfunction) and/or (iii) more rarely, a large arterio-venous shunt. In its most simple form, the oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve describes the relation between the partial pressure of oxygen (x axis) and the oxygen saturation (y axis). Many factors influence the affinity of this binding, altering the curve shape. For example, acidosis and body hyperthermia induce a right shift of the curve. This shif