Role of Active Deresuscitation After Resuscitation:

The RADAR-Canada trial is a pilot RCT undertaken to assess the acceptability of, compliance with, and biologic consequences of a deresuscitation protocol designed to expedite the removal of excess interstitial fluid in patients who remain in a positive fluid balance following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU).

Background: Over the course of an acute illness, critically ill patients typically receive substantial volumes of intravenous fluids, administered for resuscitation, maintenance, and as diluents for medications. A positive fluid balance is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Whether active reversal of a positive fluid balance through fluid restriction and diuresis will improve outcomes is uncertain. Methods: The Role of Active Deresuscitation After Resuscitation (RADAR) trial is a pilot study to determine the feasibility of a larger trial powered for clinically important outcomes, the acceptability of a deresuscitation protocol, and the impact of a trial on stability of practice patterns. RADAR is an open label pilot trial that will recruit 120 patients from 10 to 12 active sites in Canada. Eligible patients will be 18 years or older, mechanically ventilated \>48 hours but in the ICU for less than five days, and in a calculated positive fluid balance of \> three liters. Patients will be randomized to either usual care or a deresuscitation protocol incorporating a fluid minimization strategy and diuresis. Results and Discussion: Evidence that recruited patients will be managed according to the trial protocol, with a withdrawal rate of less than 5%, a compliance rate of \>75% and a crossover rate of \<10% will establish the acceptability of the protocol. A mean difference in fluid balance between groups of more than three liters 72 hours after enrolment will establish the feasibility of the protocol. Analyses of clinical effects will be secondary analyses. Survival to day 90 following randomization will be measured, and other clinical measures will provide estimates of rates of key outcomes to inform the design of a definitive, adequately powered trial.