Hemodynamic Effects of Vasopressin in Early Septic Shock Stage

Vasopressin is a vasopressor used in patients with septic shock. However, its systemic hemodynamic effects and its microcirculation effects are not completely known and understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exogenous vasopressin on sublingual microcirculation using the sidestream dark field technique and to correlate it with its systemic effects. To this prospective interventional study, patients with septic shock were included during the first 48 hours of use of catecholamine vasopressors, admitted to the intensive care unit of a university hospital. Vasopressin was administered at 0.04 U / min for one hour. Systemic hemodynamic measurements were obtained immediately before and 1 hour after vasopressin. In addition, images of sublingual microcirculation were collected through sidestream dark field technology. Further analysis with specific software was done after.