Diuretics decrease fluid balance in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation: the randomized-controlled single blind, IRIHS study

BACKGROUND: Fluid overload has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a diuretic strategy to overcome positive fluid balance in patients on invasive mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Design: Multicenter, single-blind, randomized-controlled study. Patients were randomized into a diuretic (furosemide) or a control group. Patients were eligible in case of fluid overload defined as in-ICU weight increase ≥ 3%, invasive mechanical ventilation (FiO(2) ≤ 60% and PEEP ≤ 10 cm H(2)O on inclusion) and hemodynamic stabilization. The primary outcome was fluid balance, defined as weight variation from reference weight to successful extubation. The main secondary outcome was the safety of diuretic. RESULTS: 171 patients were randomized. After 5 exclusions, 166 patients were included in the analysis: 77 in the diuretic and 89 in the control group. Fluid balance was 1.4 [− 2.5 to 4.5] kg in the diuretic and 6.4 [0.5–11.2] kg in the control group (p < 0.001). In the multiple imputation analysis, fluid balance was significantly decreased in the diuretic group (mean difference = − 4.8 95% CI [− 7.3 to − 2.5], p < 0.001). Eleven (14%) patients died in the diuretic group and 16 (18%) patients in the control group (p = 0.5). There was a worsening of Acute Kidney Injury in 67 (75.3%) patients of the control group versus 46 (59.7%) patients in the diuretic group (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter randomized-controlled study, protocolized diuretic therapy reduced fluid accumulation in patients receiving mechanical ventilation and was well tolerated with a favorable safety profile. Trial registration NCT 02345681, Registered January 26 2015, Prospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02345681?term=02345681&draw=2&rank=1. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-021-03509-5.