Document Detail


Evolving role of vasopressin in the treatment of cardiac arrest.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16716136     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Sudden cardiac arrest is a major public heath problem, affecting more than 450,000 individuals annually. Response time and the initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) remain the most important factors determining successful revival. During resuscitation, sympathomimetics are given to enhance cerebral and coronary perfusion pressures in an attempt to achieve restoration of spontaneous circulation. Epinephrine has been the preferred vasopressor since the inception of advanced cardiac life support, although the lack of definitive evidence regarding its effectiveness has created much controversy surrounding its use, including the optimum dosage. Vasopressin is an alternative vasopressor that, when given at high doses, causes vasoconstriction by directly stimulating smooth muscle V1 receptors. The 2000 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines commented that vasopressin is a reasonable first-line vasopressor in patients with ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. Since release of those guidelines, additional human studies support an expanded role for vasopressin, whereas other studies cast doubt regarding its efficacy compared with epinephrine. The AHA recently released revised guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care. The consensus was that vasopressors should remain a part of pulseless sudden cardiac arrest management, with epinephrine 1 mg every 3-5 minutes being the recommended adrenergic of choice. In these revised guidelines, the role of vasopressin expanded beyond previous recommendations, despite the recommendation being downgraded to class indeterminate. The guidelines comment that one dose of vasopressin 40 U may replace the first or second dose of epinephrine in all pulseless sudden cardiac arrest scenarios, including asystole and pulseless electrical activity. A consistent theme with all vasopressors in sudden cardiac arrest is that additional studies are necessary to clearly document greater efficacy compared with no treatment. Further evaluation is warranted to better assess the role of vasopressin in asystolic sudden cardiac arrest, as well as its use with epinephrine, and to determine its optimal timing of administration and potential synergistic effects.
Authors:
Todd A Miano; Michael A Crouch
Related Documents :
11727336 - Cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation.
2064096 - Comparison of standard external cpr, open-chest cpr, and cardiopulmonary bypass in a ca...
855796 - Definition of cardiac structures using computerized tomography in isolated arrested and...
22343796 - The effect of radiotherapy on cardiac function.
21732006 - Left-ventricular function and autonomic cardiac adaptations after short-term inpatient ...
2337186 - Effects of deafferentation or sequential occlusions on cardiac sympathetic activity dur...
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Pharmacotherapy     Volume:  26     ISSN:  0277-0008     ISO Abbreviation:  Pharmacotherapy     Publication Date:  2006 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-05-23     Completed Date:  2006-11-22     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8111305     Medline TA:  Pharmacotherapy     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  828-39     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23298-0533, USA.
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Arginine Vasopressin / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Heart Arrest / therapy*
Humans
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Treatment Outcome
Vasopressins / administration & dosage,  pharmacology,  therapeutic use*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
11000-17-2/Vasopressins; 113-79-1/Arginine Vasopressin

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Pharmacokinetics of intravenous immunoglobulin: a systematic review.
Next Document:  Update on apomorphine for the rapid treatment of hypomobility ("off") episodes in Parkinson's diseas...