title: Etomidate should be used carefully for emergent endotracheal intubation in patients with septic shock.
abstract: Etomidate and midazolam are the most popular drugs among the induction agents for emergent endotracheal intubation. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of adrenal insufficiency and mortality between the septic shock patients who received etomidate (ETM group) and those who received midazolam (MDZ group). Between November 2004 and September 2006, 65 patients were analyzed in this study. The hospital mortality rate was 36% in the ETM group (n=25) and 50% in the MDZ group (n=40), which was not statistically significant (p=0.269). The incidence of relative adrenal insufficiency was significantly higher in the ETM group than in the MDZ group (84% and 48%, respectively; p=0.003). On multivariate analysis, the use of etomidate was the only significant factor affecting the incidence of relative adrenal insufficiency (odds radio, 5.59; 95% confidence interval, 1.61-19.4). In conclusion, we think that physicians who treat patients with septic shock should be aware that etomidate can cause adrenal insufficiency, and should start corticosteroids if etomidate is administered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Yun
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joong Eui
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Kyu Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Chul
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Gil Jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Sung Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D000368:Aged; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005045:Etomidate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D008874:Midazolam; D005045:Etomidate