Fig. 2

Distributional figure: the figure displays different plausible allocation of patients under *four* distinctive hypoperfusion-context descriptors and their relationship with outcome in hyperlactatemic septic shock patients. The figure shows the distribution of patients according to the presence of abnormal ScvO₂, CRT, and P(cv-a)CO₂, and its relationship with hospital mortality where white and black circles represent survivors and non-survivors, respectively. a Comparing patients with normal perfusion criteria (bottom) versus those with at least one abnormal criterion (top). b Comparing patients with normal (bottom) versus abnormal ScvO₂ (top). c Comparing patients with normal (bottom) versus abnormal CRT (top). d Comparing patients with normal (bottom) versus abnormal P(cv-a)CO₂ (top). The p values represent the difference in mean lactate values among patients fulfilling or not the descriptors tested. No difference in lactate values was observed when using any of these descriptors although there are trends for difference in survival, especially when using the “at least one abnormal perfusion parameter” criterion as shown in the first column. ScvO ₂ central venous oxygen saturation, CRT capillary refill time, P(cv-a)CO ₂ central venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide difference