Bafarag Assad, Balkhair Abdullah A, Qanat Ahmed S, Alshiakh Safinaz, Ashour Sadeen
Intensive Care Unit, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, SAU.
Emergency Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, SAU.
Cureus. 2025 Apr 24;17(4):e82913. doi: 10.7759/cureus.82913. eCollection 2025 Apr.
Fluid volume measurement in the emergency department and intensive care unit (ICU) is critical for patient care. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of volume assessment among emergency medicine (EM) and ICU physicians in Saudi Arabia.
A cross-sectional study was conducted among EM and ICU physicians using an online questionnaire. Data were collected on participants' demographics, work-related information, confidence in volume assessment, use of point-of-care ultrasonography, and knowledge and practices of volume assessment.
Of the 114 physicians surveyed, 92 (80.7%) were aged 25-35 years, 65 (57%) were male, 70 (61.4%) were EM physicians, and 68 (59.6%) had fewer than five years of practice. ICU physicians demonstrated significantly higher knowledge that, in mechanically ventilated patients, a distensibility index of >18% indicates fluid responsiveness. In contrast, EM physicians had a higher proportion of correct responses regarding the indications for using Swan-Ganz catheters. The most commonly used method for volume assessment was physical examination (83, 72.8%), and the most frequently used laboratory biomarker was serum lactate (65, 57%). The majority (85, 74.6%) used focused cardiac assessments, including evaluation of the inferior vena cava, for volume assessment. ICU physicians reported significantly higher use of Doppler ultrasound for volume assessment. Only 17 (14.9%) physicians demonstrated a good level of knowledge of volume assessment, with no significant associations found between knowledge level and participants' demographics, work experience, or confidence in volume assessment.
A poor understanding of fluid volume assessment was observed among EM and ICU physicians in Saudi Arabia. Training on the principles of volume assessment is needed.
在急诊科和重症监护病房（ICU）进行液体量测量对患者护理至关重要。本研究旨在评估沙特阿拉伯急诊医学（EM）和ICU医生对容量评估的知识掌握情况。
采用在线问卷对EM和ICU医生进行横断面研究。收集了参与者的人口统计学信息、工作相关信息、对容量评估的信心、即时超声检查的使用情况以及容量评估的知识和实践情况。
在接受调查的114名医生中，92名（80.7%）年龄在25 - 35岁之间，65名（57%）为男性，70名（61.4%）为EM医生，68名（59.6%）的从业年限少于5年。ICU医生对机械通气患者中扩张指数>18%表示液体反应性的知识掌握程度明显更高。相比之下，EM医生对使用Swan - Ganz导管的适应症的正确回答比例更高。最常用的容量评估方法是体格检查（83名，72.8%），最常用的实验室生物标志物是血清乳酸（65名，57%）。大多数（85名，74.6%）使用包括评估下腔静脉在内的重点心脏评估来进行容量评估。ICU医生报告在容量评估中使用多普勒超声的比例明显更高。只有17名（14.9%）医生对容量评估表现出良好的知识水平，知识水平与参与者的人口统计学、工作经验或对容量评估的信心之间未发现显著关联。
沙特阿拉伯的EM和ICU医生对液体容量评估的理解较差。需要进行容量评估原则方面的培训。
