Potential for overuse of corticosteroids and vasopressin in septic shock

Excerpt

Guidelines recommend corticosteroids and vasopressin to treat septic shock as per specific indications [1]. However, the results from trials evaluating both drugs conflict. For corticosteroids, the 2002 Annane and colleagues study showed a survival benefit for hydro-cortisone/fludrocortisone treatment in patients with an inappropriate cortisol response to a high-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) test [2], while the Corticosteroid Therapy of Septic Shock (CORTICUS) trial found no difference in survival by patients' response to ACTH [3]. The Vasopressin and Septic Shock Trial (VASST) demonstrated a survival benefit in less severe septic shock, but guidelines espouse use 'in patients refractory to other vasopressors' [1, 4]. Clinical variability, leading to overtreatment, may have negative effects on survival. To evaluate the impact of these evidence limitations, we surveyed physicians in the Critical Illness Outcomes Study (CIOS). …