Fluid Therapy: Double-Edged Sword during Critical Care?

Figure 1

Cardiac function curve. There is a family of cardiac function curves depending on the ventricular contractility. If the ventricles are functioning on the steep part of cardiac function curve, changes in cardiac preload induced by mechanical ventilation, end-expiratory occlusion (EEO), passive leg raising (PLR), or “mini fluid challenge” result in significant changes in stroke volume. This is not the case if the ventricles are functioning on the steep part of cardiac function curve.