Vasopressin in catecholamine-resistant septic and cardiogenic shock in very-low-birthweight infants.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate vasopressin as a rescue therapy in catecholamine-refractory septic and cardiogenic shock in very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants.


METHODS
Prospective assessment of vasopressin therapy in three VLBW infants with catecholamine-refractory septic shock (24 + 6 wk, 600 g) and cardiogenic shock (26 + 1 wk, 890 g; 26 + 1 wk, 880 g) at a university hospital.


RESULTS
Adequate systemic arterial blood pressure could only be restored after vasopressin administration as a continuous infusion over a 36-h period in the preterm suffering from septic shock; in the two neonates with cardiogenic shock, only a transient stabilization in mean arterial pressure was observed, which did not impact on the poor prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Although vasopressin appears to be a suitable rescue therapy in catecholamine-resistant septic shock in VLBW infants, further evaluation in controlled clinical trials is warranted.
Meyer
Sascha
S
Department of Neonatology and Paediatric Intensive Care, University Children's Hospital of Saarland, Homburg, Germany. sascha.meyer@uniklinik-saarland.de
Löffler
Günther
G
Polcher
Thorsten
T
Gottschling
Sven
S
Gortner
Ludwig
L
D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012770:Shock, Cardiogenic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014667:Vasopressins; D009638:Norepinephrine