Prescribed targets for titration of vasopressors in septic shock: a retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Without robust clinical evidence to guide titration of vasopressors in septic shock, it is unclear how dosing of these potent medications occurs. We sought to measure the proportion of vasopressor prescriptions for septic shock that were missing explicit targets and to describe the targets that we identified.

Methods

We conducted a multicentre, retrospective cohort study involving 9 intensive care units (ICUs) located at 3 academic hospitals in Canada and Australia. We reviewed charts of consecutive patients aged 18 years or older who were admitted to the ICU for a presumptive diagnosis of sepsis. Other inclusion criteria were hypotension (systolic arterial pressure ≤ 90 mm Hg or mean arterial pressure [MAP] ≤ 65 mm Hg) and continuous infusion of vasopressors for

SUBMITTER: St-Arnaud C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3985969 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature