Beneficial Effects of Short-term Vasopressin Infusion during Severe Septic Shock

TLDR

Septic shock is linked to vasopressin deficiency and heightened sensitivity to its exogenous administration. The study aimed to assess whether a short‑term vasopressin infusion could spare conventional vasopressors while preserving hemodynamic stability and organ perfusion in severe septic shock. Patients requiring high‑dose vasopressors were randomized to a double‑blinded 4‑hour infusion of norepinephrine or vasopressin, with vasopressors titrated to maintain blood pressure, and end‑organ perfusion was evaluated via urine output, creatinine clearance, gastric mucosal CO₂ tension, and ECG ST segments. Vasopressin markedly reduced norepinephrine requirements (from 25 to 5.3 µg/min versus 20 to 17 µg/min for norepinephrine alone, P < 0.001), maintained mean arterial pressure and cardiac index, and significantly increased urine output and creatinine clearance (≈75 % rise) without altering gastric CO₂ or ECG ST segments.

Abstract

Background Septic shock is associated with vasopressin deficiency and a hypersensitivity to its exogenous administration. The goal of the current study was to determine whether short-term vasopressin infusion in patients experiencing severe septic shock has a vasopressor sparing effect while maintaining hemodynamic stability and adequate end-organ perfusion. Methods Patients experiencing septic shock that required high-dose vasopressor support were randomized to a double-blinded 4-h infusion of either norepinephrine (n = 11) or vasopressin (n = 13), and open-label vasopressors were titrated to maintain blood pressure. To assess end-organ perfusion, urine output and creatinine clearance, gastric mucosal carbon dioxide tension, and electrocardiogram ST segment position were measured. Results Patients randomized to norepinephrine went from a median prestudy norepinephrine infusion of 20.0 microg/min to a blinded infusion of 17.0 mug/min at 4 h, whereas those randomized to vasopressin went from a median prestudy norepinephrine infusion of 25.0 microg/min to 5.3 microg/min at 4 h (P &amp;lt; 0.001). Mean arterial pressure and cardiac index were maintained in both groups. Urine output did not change in the norepinephrine group (median, 25 to 15 ml/h) but increased substantially in the vasopressin group (median, 32.5 to 65 ml/h; P &amp;lt; 0.05). Similarly, creatinine clearance did not change in the norepinephrine group but increased by 75% in the vasopressin group (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Gastric mucosal carbon dioxide tension and electrocardiogram ST segments did not change significantly in either group. Conclusions The authors conclude that short-term vasopressin infusion spared conventional vasopressor use and improved some measures of renal function in patients with severe septic shock.