Table 1 Characteristics of included randomized controlled trials ^a

Tuchschmidt et al. [16]

1992

51 (26/25)

Adult patients with septic shock

ICU

CI 6≥L/min/m²

CI 3≥L/min/m²

Within the first 6 hr

14 days

SBP ≥90 mmHg

SBP ≥90 mmHg

Yu et al. [17]

1993

52 (30/22)

Adult patients with sepsis or septic shock

ICU

DO₂I >600 ml/min/m²

DO₂I 450 to 550 ml/min/m²

Unclear

30 days

(septic subpopulation)

SBP >100 mmHg

SBP >100 mmHg

Hayes et al. [18]

1994

47 (24/23)

Adult patients with septic shock

ICU

CI ≥4.5 L/min/m²

Usual care

Unclear

Hospital

(septic subpopulation)

DO₂ 600 ml/min/m²

VO₂ > 170 ml/min/m²

Gattinoni et al. [19]

1995

181 (124/57)

Adult patients with septic shock or septic syndrome

ICU

CI ≥4.5 L/min/m² or SvO₂ ≥ 70%

CI 2.5 to 3.5 L/min/m²

Unclear

ICU

MAP ≥65 mmHg

(septic subpopulation)

MAP ≥65 mmHg

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/h

Yu et al. [20]

1998

87 (58/29)

Adult patients with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock

ICU

DO₂I >600 ml/min/m²

DO₂I 450 to 550 ml/min/m²

Unclear

ICU

SBP ≥100 mmHg

SBP ≥100 mmHg

(septic subpopulation)

SvO₂ > 65%

SvO₂ > 65%

UO >50 ml/hr

UO >50 ml/hr

Alía et al. [21]

1999

63 (31/32)

Adult patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

ICU

DO₂I >600 ml/min/m²

DO₂I >330 ml/min/m²

Unclear

ICU

MAP >60 mmHg

MAP >60 mmHg

Rivers et al. [6]

2001

263 (130/133)

Adult patients with severe sepsis, septic shock or sepsis syndrome

ED

SvO₂ ≥ 70%

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

Within the first 6 hr

Hospital

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

MAP 65 to 90 mmHg

MAP 65 to 90 mmHg

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

Lin et al. [22]

2006

224 (108/116)

Adult patients with septic shock

ICU

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

Usual care

Within the first 6 hr

Hospital

MAP ≥65 mmHg

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

Wang et al. [23]

2006

34 (16/17)

Adult patients with septic shock

ICU

SvO₂ ≥ 70%

MAP ≥65 mmHg

Within the first 6 to 10 hr

14 days

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

MAP ≥65 mmHg

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

Chen et al. [24]

2007

123 (58/65)

Adult patients with severe sepsis

ICU

ScvO₂ ≥ 70%

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

Within the first 6 hr

ICU

(septic subpopulation)

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

MAP ≥65 mmHg

MAP ≥65 mmHg

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

He et al. [25]

2007

203 (98/105)

Adult patients with septic shock

ICU

ScvO₂ or SvO₂ ≥ 70%

Usual care

Within the first 6 hr

Hospital

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

MAP ≥65 mmHg

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

Yan et al. [26]

2010

303 (157/146)

Adult patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

ICU

ScvO₂ ≥ 70%

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

Within the first 6 hr

ICU

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

SBP >90 mmHg

SBP >90 mmHg

MAP ≥65 mmHg

MAP ≥65 mmHg

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr

ProCESS [7]

2014

895 (439/456)

Adult patients with septic shock

ED

ScvO₂ ≥ 70%

Usual care

Within the first 6 hr

Hospital

CVP 8 to 12 mmHg

MAP 65 to 90 mmHg

UO ≥0.5 ml/kg/hr