Controlled Fluid Removal in Critical Ill Patients With Fluid Overload in the Intensive Care Unit.

Fluid overload is a common and serious complication in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). A core element of therapy in the ICU is resuscitation with crystalloid solutions. In many cases fluid accumulate, and patients become fluid overloaded. Several observational studies indicate a detrimental effect of fluid overload in different clinical settings, including patients with acute kidney injury. It is unknown whether this association is causal or if the increased tendency to accumulate fluid is a marker of disease severity and thereby a higher risk of death. The investigators want to investigate this in critical ill patients with fluid overload of 5% or more by randomizing them to furosemide (diuretics) or placebo.

Inclusion criteria

ALL below must be met.

• Acute admission to the intensive care unit.
• Age ≥ 18 years of age
• Fluid overload ≥ 5% of ideal body weight. If possible, all fluids administered before admission to the intensive care unit are to be included in the calculation of cumulative fluid balance.
• Clinical stable (minimum criteria: MAP > 50 mmHg and maximum infusion of 20 microgram/kg/minute of noradrenaline and lactate < 4.0 mmol/L)

Exclusion criteria

• Known allergy to furosemide or sulphonamides.
• Known pre-hospitalization advanced chronic kidney disease (eGFR < 30 mL/minute/1.73 m^2 or chronic RRT).
• Ongoing renal replacement therapy.
• Anuria > 6 hours.
• Rhabdomyolysis with indication for forced diuresis
• Ongoing life-threatening bleeding as these patients need specific fluid/blood product strategies.
• Acute burn injury of more than 10% of the body surface area as these patients need a specific fluid strategy.
• Severe dysnatremia (p-Na < 120 or > 155 mmol/L) as these patients need a specific fluid strategy.
• Severe hepatic failure as per the clinical team.
• Patients undergoing forced treatment.
• Fertile women (women < 50 years) with positive urine human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or plasma-hCG.
• Consent not obtainable as per the model approved for the specific trial site.