Broad Spectrum Vasopressors

Broad Spectrum Vasopressors

We propose the notion of "broad spectrum vasopressors" wherein patients with septic shock are started on multiple vasopressors with a different mechanism of action simultaneously while the vasopressor sensitivity is assessed.... read more

Epinephrine Challenge in Sepsis: An Empiric Approach to Catecholamines

Epinephrine Challenge in Sepsis: An Empiric Approach to Catecholamines

The critical care world is obsessed with fluid. Meanwhile, little attention has been given to the concepts of vasopressor responsiveness and vasopressor challenge. This is a missed opportunity, because vasopressor challenges... read more

Effect of Vitamin C and Thiamine on Time Alive and Free of Vasopressor Support Among Patients With Septic Shock

Effect of Vitamin C and Thiamine on Time Alive and Free of Vasopressor Support Among Patients With Septic Shock

A 2020 randomized trial reported no difference in duration of time alive and free of vasopressor administration at 7 days among intensive care unit (ICU) patients with septic shock assigned to vitamin C, thiamine, and hydrocortisone... read more

Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Evidence Relevant to Critical Care

Coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Evidence Relevant to Critical Care

The 2019 Coronavirus outbreak was declared a global Public Health Emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 30th January 2020. In order to ensure immediate access to relevant systematic reviews, this Cochrane... read more

Influence of Head-of-bed Elevation on the Measurement of IVC Diameter and Collapsibility

Influence of Head-of-bed Elevation on the Measurement of IVC Diameter and Collapsibility

In a population of critically ill patients undergoing goal-directed ultrasound examinations, elevating head-of-bed (HOB) to 30° did not significantly alter inferior vena cava (IVC) measurements or CI. At 45°, however,... read more

Effect of Vitamin C, Hydrocortisone, and Thiamine vs Hydrocortisone Alone on Time Alive and Free of Vasopressor Support Among Patients With Septic Shock

Effect of Vitamin C, Hydrocortisone, and Thiamine vs Hydrocortisone Alone on Time Alive and Free of Vasopressor Support Among Patients With Septic Shock

In patients with septic shock, treatment with intravenous vitamin C, hydrocortisone, and thiamine, compared with intravenous hydrocortisone alone, did not significantly improve the duration of time alive and free of vasopressor... read more

Could the Furosemide Stress Test Clarify Resuscitative Goals?

Could the Furosemide Stress Test Clarify Resuscitative Goals?

Imagine that you admit a patient with septic shock. You resuscitate the patient as best you can with inopressors, fluids, and antibiotics. An adequate blood pressure is achieved. A reasonable amount of fluid is administered.... read more

Enteral Nutrition Can Be Given to Patients on Vasopressors

Enteral Nutrition Can Be Given to Patients on Vasopressors

Most all recent studies show Enteral Nutrition (EN) can be delivered safely to patients on vasopressors. In fact, many studies show an outcome benefit of early EN (EEN) in ICU patients who are receiving vasopressors. It... read more

Early Identification of Patients at High Risk of Streptococcus-associated Necrotizing Infections

Early Identification of Patients at High Risk of Streptococcus-associated Necrotizing Infections

Two simple and available upon admission clinical predictors of group A streptococcus (GAS) documentation identified among a large cohort of surgically proven necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs). The results show... read more

Update to the Vitamin C, Thiamine and Steroids in Sepsis (VICTAS) Protocol

Update to the Vitamin C, Thiamine and Steroids in Sepsis (VICTAS) Protocol

The analyses described here are those necessary to answer the trial's primary question of whether combined treatment with vitamin C, thiamine and steroids is more effective than placebo in increasing days alive and free from... read more

Vasopressin for Acute Hemorrhage?

Vasopressin for Acute Hemorrhage?

Vasoactive medications are one of the pillars of management of shock in Emergency Departments. Inopressors, namely Norepinephrine and Epinephrine, are the two most commonly used pressors in US Emergency Departments, used... read more

Use of Vasopressor Increases the Risk of Mortality in Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock

Use of Vasopressor Increases the Risk of Mortality in Traumatic Hemorrhagic Shock

Use of vasopressor for traumatic hemorrhagic shock was associated with mortality after controlling for biases (trauma severity; volume of fluid resuscitation). Among 236,698 trauma patients, 3,551 were included in the... read more

Association of Corticosteroid Treatment With Outcomes in Adult Patients With Sepsis

Association of Corticosteroid Treatment With Outcomes in Adult Patients With Sepsis

In this meta-analysis of 37 RCTs (including 9564 patients), corticosteroid treatment was significantly associated with reduced 28-day mortality, ICU mortality, and in-hospital mortality among patients with sepsis. However,... read more

Early vs. Delayed Administration of Norepinephrine in Patients with Septic Shock

Early vs. Delayed Administration of Norepinephrine in Patients with Septic Shock

This study investigated the incidence of delayed norepinephrine administration following the onset of septic shock and its effect on hospital mortality. Our results show that early administration of norepinephrine in... read more

Renal Outcomes of Vasopressin and Its Analogs in Distributive Shock

Renal Outcomes of Vasopressin and Its Analogs in Distributive Shock

In patients with distributive shock, vasopressin and its analogs use is associated with a reduced need for renal replacement therapy and lower acute kidney injury (AKI) incidence. These results are supported by high risk... read more

Myocardial Ischemia During Ventilator Weaning

Myocardial Ischemia During Ventilator Weaning

This observational study showed the pulmonary edema (WiPO) occurred in a significant number of critically ill patients who failed a first spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), while cardiac ischemia (WiCI) was less frequent.... read more

Vasoactive Medication and Randomized Clinical Trials

Vasoactive Medication and Randomized Clinical Trials

Vasoactive medication is one of the cornerstones in the treatment of critically ill patients in shock. Shock can be defined as a failure of the circulatory system to provide adequate tissue perfusion resulting in cellular... read more