Skin necrosis after extravasation of low-dose vasopressin administered for septic shock.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of severe skin necrosis resulting from peripheral intravenous administration of low-dose vasopressin in a patient with catecholamine-resistant septic shock.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Medical intensive care unit at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL.


METHODS
A 46-yr-old female with ventilator-dependent, proliferative-phase acute respiratory distress syndrome complicated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia and sepsis.


RESULTS
A patient recovering from acute respiratory distress syndrome developed septic shock from Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia while in the medical intensive care unit. Vasopressin (0.04 units/min) was administered through a peripheral venous catheter for hypotension unresponsive to exogenous catecholamines. The patient subsequently developed severe ischemic necrosis of the skin and soft tissue surrounding the catheter site. The vasopressin was stopped, and the skin lesion progressed to bullae formation with extensive superficial erosion.


CONCLUSIONS
Peripheral administration of low-dose vasopressin for septic shock should be discouraged because of the risk of ischemic skin complications.
Kahn
Jeremy M
JM
Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Kress
John P
JP
Hall
Jesse B
JB
D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014667:Vasopressins