Septic shock
Treatment
Vasopressors
Among the choices for pressors, a randomized controlled trial concluded that there was no difference between norepinephrine (plus dobutamine as needed for cardiac output) versus epinephrine.[1]
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids, especially if combined with a mineralocorticoid, can reduce mortality among patients who have relative adrenal insufficiency[2] Although the largest and most recent randomized controlled trial was negative, its patients were less sick (as evidenced by less stringent inclusion criteria and less mortality in the control group) and mineralcorticoids were not given as a co-treatment.[3]
Activated protein C
Recombinant activated protein C (drotrecogin alpha) has been shown in large randomized clinical trials to be associated with reduced mortality (Number needed to treat (NNT) of 16) in patients with multi-organ failure[4] If this is given, heparin should probably be continued.[5]
References
- ↑ Annane D, Vignon P, Renault A, et al (2007). "Norepinephrine plus dobutamine versus epinephrine alone for management of septic shock: a randomised trial". Lancet 370 (9588): 676-84. DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61344-0. PMID 17720019. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Annane D, Sebille V, Charpentier C, Bollaert PE, Francois B, Korach JM, Capellier G, Cohen Y, Azoulay E, Troche G, Chaumet-Riffaut P, Bellissant E. Effect of treatment with low doses of hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone on mortality in patients with septic shock. JAMA. 2002 Aug 21;288(7):862-71. PMID 12186604
- ↑ Sprung CL, Annane D, Keh D, et al (2008). "Hydrocortisone therapy for patients with septic shock". N. Engl. J. Med. 358 (2): 111–24. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa071366. PMID 18184957. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Bernard GR, Vincent JL, Laterre PF, LaRosa SP, Dhainaut JF, Lopez-Rodriguez A, Steingrub JS, Garber GE, Helterbrand JD, Ely EW, Fisher CJ Jr; Recombinant human protein C Worldwide Evaluation in Severe Sepsis (PROWESS) study group. Efficacy and safety of recombinant human activated protein C for severe sepsis. N Engl J Med. 2001 Mar 8;344(10):699-709. PMID 11236773
- ↑ Levi M, Levy M, Williams MD, et al (2007). "Prophylactic heparin in patients with severe sepsis treated with drotrecogin alfa (activated)". Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 176 (5): 483–90. DOI:10.1164/rccm.200612-1803OC. PMID 17556722. Research Blogging.