Early goal-directed therapy: on terminal life support?

Abstract

Early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) has become regarded as the standard of care for the management of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. The elements of EGDT have been bundled together as the "Sepsis Bundle," and compliance with the elements of the bundle is frequently used as an indicator of the quality of care delivered. The major elements of EGDT include fluid resuscitation to achieve a central venous pressure of 8 to 12 cm of water, followed by the transfusion of packed red cells or an inotropic agent to maintain the central venous oxygen saturation higher than 70%. Although the concept of early resuscitation is a scientifically sound concept, we believe that the major elements of the sepsis bundle are fatally flawed.