How is norepinephrine used in intensive care? A field study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess how norepinephrine (NE), an emergency treatment of cardiovascular collapse, is used in intensive care.


METHODS
Nurses and physicians of 14 intensive care units of the Bordeaux University Hospital were given questionnaires on the way they say they use NE and on actual NE treatment of patients.


RESULTS
The clinical monitoring parameters cited were blood pressure, heart rate and hourly urine flow. Only 25% of the prescribers indicated the systematic use of hemodynamic monitoring. All the prescribers indicated they adapted the treatment to clinical objectives and blood pressure, and 77.5% to hourly urine flow. Initial NE concentrations ranged from 0.5 to 2 mg/ml, diluted in saline or dextrose. Initial prescribed dose ranged from 0.1 to 1 microg/kg/min. Large differences were observed between services and even within units.


CONCLUSIONS
These data clearly show the need for recommendations regarding the use of norepinephrine.
Blazejewski
Sylvie
S
CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France-INSERM U657, Bordeaux, France.
Raymond
Nathalie
N
Lagnaoui
Rajaa
R
Winnock
Stéphane
S
Cochard
Jean-François
JF
Petit
Laurent
L
Dosque
Jean-Pierre
JP
Fillatreau
Christian
C
Moore
Nicholas
N
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003422:Critical Care; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D011184:Postoperative Period
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D009638:Norepinephrine