Effects of Esmolol on Sublingual Microcirculation and Vascular Waterfall Phenomenon in Patients With Septic Shock

NCT07657754 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 20

Last updated 2026-06-18

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This prospective, multicenter, single-arm interventional pilot study aims to evaluate the short-term physiological effects of intravenous esmolol on sublingual microcirculation and vascular-waterfall parameters in adult patients with septic shock. Eligible patients will have septic shock according to Sepsis-3 criteria, persistent tachycardia after initial hemodynamic optimization, ongoing norepinephrine support, adequate volume status or absence of significant fluid responsiveness, and preserved or hyperdynamic cardiac function.

Approximately 20 patients will be enrolled from participating intensive care units. After baseline assessment, participants will receive continuous intravenous esmolol infusion according to the study protocol and clinical safety criteria. Sublingual microcirculatory variables, including microvascular flow index, perfused vessel density, proportion of perfused vessels, and heterogeneity index, as well as vascular-waterfall parameters, including estimated critical closing pressure, estimated mean systemic filling pressure, and the Pcc-Pmsf gradient, will be measured at baseline and at 3, and 6 hours after esmolol initiation. Additional systemic hemodynamic, perfusion, vasopressor, and safety variables will also be collected.

The primary objective is to characterize immediate changes in sublingual microcirculation and vascular-waterfall physiology after esmolol administration and to provide preliminary data for the design of future controlled studies.

Conditions

  • Septic Shock
  • Sepsis
  • Critical Illness Sepsis, Severe

Interventions

DRUG

Esmolol intravenous infusion

Esmolol will be administered as a continuous intravenous infusion after initial hemodynamic optimization. The suggested initial infusion rate is 25-50 μg/kg/min and may be titrated according to heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, and clinical judgment. The target heart rate is generally 80-94 beats/min, unless individualized by the treating physician. Dose adjustment, temporary interruption, or discontinuation is permitted for safety reasons, including hypotension, bradycardia, reduced cardiac output, or other clinically significant adverse events. The actual dose and reasons for dose changes will be recorded at each study time point.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical University

    collaborator OTHER
  • First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
85 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-08-01
Primary Completion
2027-12-01
Completion
2027-12-30

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

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Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07657754 on ClinicalTrials.gov