Weapons of pressure resuscitation for septic shock

Excerpt

While the subject of this analogy is intended to take lives, the weapons we use to resuscitate patients with septic shock are meant to save lives. Debate continues whether an ideal weapon exists, despite many investigations over a number of years. Clearly, patients with severe shock that is left untreated will die, while treatment with fluids and vasopressors can result in at least short-term survival (although patients may subsequently die of underlying disease). This constitutes level 1 evidence for the intervention, even in the absence of a randomized controlled trial [1]. However, we continue to seek proof that any one method of resuscitation is superior. Recent commentaries supporting norepinephrine [2] or dopamine [3] as the initial vasopressor for treatment of septic shock highlight the lack of consensus and supporting evidence. Both articles conclude by stating that well-designed, prospective randomized clinical trials are needed. …