Fluid administration limited by lung sonography: the place of lung ultrasound in assessment of acute circulatory failure (the FALLS-protocol)

Abstract

The FALLS-protocol is included in a limited investigation to diagnose the cause of shock. After simple echocardiography has ruled out obstructive shock (tamponade, pulmonary embolism), the lung is investigated. Absence of disseminated lung rockets rules out cardiogenic shock. At this point, hypovolemic and septic shock are differential diagnoses (rarities apart), and the FALLS-protocol provides fluid therapy with constant monitoring of lung artifacts. Hypovolemic shock will eventually improve – septic shock will not, and the slight excess fluid creates an early, silent stage of interstitial edema, demonstrated by B-lines, demanding interruption of fluid therapy. This sequential approach, combined with the usual, clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic parameters, must be evaluated in multicenter studies.

Keywords::

• acute circulatory failure
• fluid responsiveness
• hemodynamic assessment
• lung ultrasound

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.