Effects of Low Dose Vasopressin in Catecholamine Resistant Septic Shock.
BACKGROUND
Septic shock commonly leads to death in critically ill patients. Severe hypotension resistant to conventional catecholamine leads to multiorgan failure. We studied the effectiveness of low dose vasopressin in resistant septic shock.


METHODS
Thirty critically ill patients with catecholamine resistant hypotension were included in the study. After adequate fluid resuscitation, infusion of norepinephrine and dobutamine was started. If the patient remained hypotensive, vasopressin was infused at a fixed rate of 0.04 unit/minute for 24 hours. Haemodynamic parameters and mortality rates were recorded.


RESULTS
There was a significant improvement in systolic and mean arterial pressure within four hours of starting vasopressin. This improvement continued throughout the 24-hour period. In addition, it was possible to withdraw dopamine in all the patients and significantly reduce infusion rates of dobutamine and norepinephrine. No significant complication was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Low dose vasopressin at the rate of 0.04 unit/minute is an effective vasopressor in adult patients with catecholamine resistant septic shock.
Classified Specialist (Anaesthesiology & Critical Care), 5 Air Force Hospital, C/o 99 APO.
R M
RM
Sharma
Reader (Department of Anaesthesiology & Critical Care), AFMC, Pune-411040.
R
R
Setlur
Classified Specialist (Neuro-Anaesthesiology) 166 MH, C/O 56 APO.
K
K
Prabhakaran
Graded Specialist (Anaesthesiology), MH-Ranikhet.
A
A
Rai
Septic shock; Severe sepsis; Vasopressin
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