Vasoactive Drugs in Intensive Care Unit

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO · Apr 16, 2014

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, titled "Vasoactive Drugs in Intensive Care Unit," is studying how different medications can help patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) who are experiencing shock, a serious condition where the body doesn’t get enough blood flow. The researchers want to find out if using the medications phenylephrine and vasopressin is better at preventing irregular heartbeats (called tachydysrhythmias) compared to norepinephrine and epinephrine, which are commonly used in these situations. The trial is currently recruiting patients aged 18 and older who need these medications to treat shock that hasn’t improved with fluids.

If you or a loved one are eligible to participate, you will be randomly assigned to receive one of the two treatment options. The study is designed to compare the effects of these medications on your condition, and you will not know which treatment you are receiving, which helps ensure the results are unbiased. It’s important to know that this trial is focused on patients who have low blood pressure despite receiving fluids, and some conditions, such as severe heart failure or being pregnant, may prevent participation. Your healthcare team can provide more information and help determine if this study is appropriate for you.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age greater than or equal to 18 years old
• • 2. Requirement for vasoactive drugs via a central venous catheter for the treatment of shock. Shock will be defined as mean arterial pressure less than 70 mmHg or systolic blood pressure less than 100 mmHg despite administration of at least 1000 mL of crystalloid or 500 mL of colloid, unless there is an elevation in the central venous pressure to \> 12 mmHg or in the pulmonary artery occlusion pressure to \> 14 mmHg coupled with signs of tissue hypoperfusion (e.g. altered mental state, mottled skin, urine output \< 0.5 mL/kg body weight for one hour, or a serum lactate level of \> 2 mmol per liter).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Cardiopulmonary arrest
• • 2. Pregnancy
• • 3. Severe right heart failure