Evidence suggests that septic shock patients with chronic arterial hypertension may benefit from resuscitation targeted to achieve higher blood pressure values than other patients, possibly as a result of altered renal autoregulation. The effects of different vasopressor agents on renal autoregulation may be important in this context. We investigated the effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and norepinephrine (NE) on renal autoregulation in ovine septic shock. Sepsis was induced by fecal peritonitis. When shock developed (decrease in mean arterial pressure to <65 mmHg and no fluid responsiveness), animals were randomized to receive NE or AVP in a crossover design. Before the switch to the second vasopressor, the first vasopressor was discontinued for 30 min to ensure complete washout of the first vasopressor. Renal autoregulation was evaluated by recording the change in renal blood flow (RBF) in response to manual, stepwise reductions in renal inflow pressure. In this model, the lower limit of renal autoregulation was not significantly altered 6 h after sepsis induction (59 ± 9 vs. 64 ± 7 mmHg at baseline, <i>P</i> = 0.096). After development of shock, the autoregulatory threshold was lower with AVP than with NE (59 ± 5 vs. 65 ± 7 mmHg, <i>P</i> = 0.010). However, RBF was higher with NE both at the start of autoregulatory measurements (206 ± 58 vs. 170 ± 52 ml/min; <i>P</i> = 0.049) and at the autoregulatory threshold (191 ± 53 vs. 150 ± 47 ml/min; <i>P</i> = 0.008). As vasopressors may have different effects on renal autoregulation, blood pressure management in patients with septic shock should be individualized and take into account drug-specific effects.<b>NEW & NOTEWORTHY</b> Septic shock patients with chronic arterial hypertension may benefit from higher blood pressure targets due to underlying deficits in renal autoregulatory efficiency. The current study is the first to show that the choice of vasopressor agent can differentially affect renal autoregulation. These findings may contribute to more personalized blood pressure management in patients with septic shock.
End-of-life (EOL) issues have become increasingly common in intensive therapy units (ITUs), largely due to advances in critical care that enable patients to be kept alive for extended periods. Death in the ITU now generally follows an EOL decision, which can pose ethical, emotional, and practical challenges. Our approach to such issues should be based on adherence to the four bioethical principles - autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and distributive justice - as well as the concept of proportionate care, and requires careful and effective communication with the whole ITU team, including the patient and their family. In this article, we discuss 10 key considerations related to EOL care in the ITU, in an attempt to highlight some critical aspects of EOL decision-making for intensivists navigating this sensitive and multifaceted area of practice.
SCOPUS: cp.j
Within the limitations due to the nature of the study, most patients with distributive shock experienced at least one episode with MAP < 65 mmHg lasting > 2 h. Episodes of prolonged hypotension were associated with higher mortality.
