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Vasopressin or norepinephrine in early hyperdynamic septic shock: a randomized clinical trial

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Abstract

Objective

To compare the effects of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and norepinephrine (NE) on hemodynamic variables, organ dysfunction, and adverse events in early hyperdynamic septic shock.

Design and setting

Randomized, controlled, open-label trial.

Patients and participants

Twenty-three patients with early (12 h) hyperdynamic septic shock in two teaching hospitals.

Interventions

AVP (0.04–0.20 U min–1, n = 13) as a single agent or NE (0.1–2.8 μg kg–1 min–1, n = 10) infusion for 48 h to achieve mean arterial pressure at or above 70 mmHg.

Measurements and results

Hemodynamic parameters and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score were measured. AVP and NE equally increased mean arterial pressure over 48 h, but NE was required in 36% of AVP patients at 48 h. Compared to baseline, AVP increased systemic vascular resistance, decreased exposure to NE, decreased cardiac output by decreasing heart rate, increased creatinine clearance, and improved SOFA score. The PrCO2 – PaCO2 difference remained stable throughout the study. One AVP patient developed acute coronary syndrome with dose-dependent ECG changes. Three patients in both groups died during their ICU stay.

Conclusion

In early hyperdynamic septic shock, the administration of high-dose AVP as a single agent fails to increase mean arterial pressure in the first hour but maintains it above 70 mmHg in two-thirds of patients at 48 h. AVP decreases NE exposure, has no effect on the PrCO2 – PaCO2 difference, and improves renal function and SOFA score.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr. Deborah Cook for reviewing the manuscript and Drs. Julie Abel, Dominique Bérard, Claude Cyr, Eric Deland, Sophie Laflamme, Marcel Martin, and Catherine St-Pierre for their help in recruiting patients.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Soins Intensifs Médicaux et Chirurgicaux, Centre de Recherche Clinique, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, 12ème Avenue Nord, 3001, J1H 5N4, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    François Lauzier & Olivier Lesur

  2. Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Central, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy, Nancy, France

    Bruno Lévy

  3. Département de Pharmacie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, 12ème Avenue Nord, 3001, J1H 5N4, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

    Patrice Lamarre

Authors
  1. François Lauzier
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  2. Bruno Lévy
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  3. Patrice Lamarre
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  4. Olivier Lesur
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Olivier Lesur.

Additional information

This work was supported by the Cardiovascular Critical Care research Network FRSQ and departmental funding.

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Lauzier, F., Lévy, B., Lamarre, P. et al. Vasopressin or norepinephrine in early hyperdynamic septic shock: a randomized clinical trial. Intensive Care Med 32, 1782–1789 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-006-0378-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-006-0378-0

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