Discontinuation of vasopressin before norepinephrine increases the incidence of hypotension in patients recovering from septic shock: a retrospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: There are little data regarding the discontinuation of vasoactive medications in patients recovering from septic shock. We designed this retrospective cohort study to evaluate the incidence of hypotension based on the order of removal of norepinephrine (NE) and vasopressin (AVP) in patients receiving concomitant NE and AVP infusions for the treatment of septic shock.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients receiving concomitant NE and AVP infusions for septic shock admitted to the intensive care units of a tertiary care academic medical center were evaluated.

RESULTS: Of 50 included patients, the first vasoactive medication discontinued was NE in 32 patients and AVP in 18 patients. The groups had similar Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores at shock onset and at the time of discontinuation of the first agent. Five patients who had NE discontinued first (16%) versus 10 patients who had AVP discontinued first (56%) developed hypotension within 24 hours (unadjusted relative risk, 3.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.5; P = .008). In a multivariate analysis, only discontinuation of AVP first was independently associated with hypotension (adjusted relative risk, 5.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-21.0; P = .006).

CONCLUSIONS: Discontinuation of AVP before NE may lead to a higher incidence of hypotension in patients recovering from septic shock receiving concomitant AVP and NE.