We have located links that may give you full text access.
Journal Article
Review
Vasopressor use in septic shock: an update.
Current Opinion in Anaesthesiology 2008 April
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This article reviews new findings on the use of vasopressor agents in septic shock.
RECENT FINDINGS: Several recent large randomized clinical trials have compared vasopressor agents in patients with septic shock. Briefly, the survival of patients treated with norepinephrine alone or a combination of norepinephrine and dobutamine did not significantly differ from that of patients treated with epinephrine. In observational studies, dopamine use was associated with poor outcome. The results of a clinical trial comparing dopamine and norepinephrine as a first-line agent in septic shock are pending. The addition of low-dose vasopressin to norepinephrine did not significantly improve the survival of patients with septic shock. A positive effect on survival was observed in a predetermined (norepinephrine dose <15 microg/kg/min) subgroup of patients with moderate shock. There is no large randomized clinical trial on the use of terlipressin. In contrast, nitric oxide inhibitors were associated with increased mortality in patients with septic shock.
SUMMARY: The use of norepinephrine or epinephrine can be left to the discretion of the treating physician. Low-dose vasopressin administration remains an option for catecholamine-refractory septic shock. The potential benefit of early use in combination with a moderate dose of norepinephrine remains to be determined.
RECENT FINDINGS: Several recent large randomized clinical trials have compared vasopressor agents in patients with septic shock. Briefly, the survival of patients treated with norepinephrine alone or a combination of norepinephrine and dobutamine did not significantly differ from that of patients treated with epinephrine. In observational studies, dopamine use was associated with poor outcome. The results of a clinical trial comparing dopamine and norepinephrine as a first-line agent in septic shock are pending. The addition of low-dose vasopressin to norepinephrine did not significantly improve the survival of patients with septic shock. A positive effect on survival was observed in a predetermined (norepinephrine dose <15 microg/kg/min) subgroup of patients with moderate shock. There is no large randomized clinical trial on the use of terlipressin. In contrast, nitric oxide inhibitors were associated with increased mortality in patients with septic shock.
SUMMARY: The use of norepinephrine or epinephrine can be left to the discretion of the treating physician. Low-dose vasopressin administration remains an option for catecholamine-refractory septic shock. The potential benefit of early use in combination with a moderate dose of norepinephrine remains to be determined.
Full text links
Related Resources
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
All material on this website is protected by copyright, Copyright © 1994-2024 by WebMD LLC.
This website also contains material copyrighted by 3rd parties.
By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Your Privacy Choices
You can now claim free CME credits for this literature searchClaim now
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app