Extravascular lung water index as a sign of developing sepsis in burns

Abstract Sepsis and multiple organ failure remain the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in burns. The aim of our study was to analyse the predictive value of extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) in the development of severe septic complications and mortality. The records of 28 patients with total burned surface area >20% were analysed (EVLWI, procalcitonin (PCT), intrathoracic blood volume index (ITBVI), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), Baltimore Sepsis Scale (BaSS)). Diagnosis of infection (day 0) was based on consensus conference of the American Burn Association. EVLWI correlated with PCT ( r = 0.597), and PEEP ( r = 0.501) on day 0 and with BaSS ( r = 0.524) and MODS ( r = 0.513) from day 1. EVLWI was elevated ( p < 0.05) from one day before diagnosis of infection, PCT was higher ( p < 0.05) from day 0 only. ROC analysis for EVLWI on day −1 and for PCT on day 0 showed similar areas under curve (0.760; 0.766). EVLWI >9 ml kg−1 on day −1 predicted sepsis (89% sensitivity, 72% specificity). After antibiotic treatment EVLWI remained high in non-survivors, decreased in survivors, whereas PCT decreased in both groups. Our data suggest that EVLWI is an early warning sign of developing infection and its continuous elevation can predict poor prognosis in burns.