Lactate and ScvO2 combinations do not predict mortality in ICU patients

Abstract

Lactate (LCT) is used to identify critically ill patients at risk of death. Low central venous oxygen saturation (SvO2) is also associated with increased mortality. It is physiologically plausible that patients with low SvO2 and high LCT do worse versus those with only one of SvO2 or LCT abnormal, or with both normal. However, the prognostic value of combining LCT and SvO2 is unknown. We studied the association between ICU mortality and combinations of SvO2 and LCT abnormality.