Role of vasopressin in the management of septic shock

Byline: Gokhan M. Mutlu (1), Phillip Factor (2) Keywords: Vasopressin; Sepsis; Septic shock; Catecholamine; Norepinephrine Abstract: Vasopressin is a potent vasopressor for improving organ perfusion during septic shock. The rationale for the use of vasopressin is its relative deficiency of plasma levels and hypersensitivity to its vasopressor effects during septic shock. Growing evidence suggests that low-dose ( Author Affiliation: (1) Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Avenue, Tarry 14--707, Chicago, IL 60611, USA (2) Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Room P&S 10-502, 630 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA Article History: Registration Date: 12/03/2004 Online Date: 21/04/2004 Article note: This work was supported by the American Heart Association, HL-66211, and the Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Research Institute.