Fluid therapy on patients in septic shock: literature review

Abstract

Defined by the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS), which is secondary to an infectious agent, sepsis is a common affection in dogs and cats, being related to high morbidity and mortality rates in these species. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and complex. Hemodynamic instability is being identified as a key factor for the high mortality rate, since it causes hypoxia and subsequent multiple organ dysfunction. The treatment consists of goal-oriented therapy and the primary objective is to restore the circulatory balance through the infusion of large amounts of fluid. However, choosing the adequate fluid therapy is still very controversial. Thus, the objective of this review is to describe the pathophysiology of sepsis and to compare the results of the use of the colloids and crystalloids presented in the scientific articles analyzed.