1.
Vasopressin vs noradrenaline: Have we found the perfect recipe to improve outcome in septic shock?
Chidambaram S, Goh EL, Rey VG, Khan MA
Journal of Critical Care. 2018;49:99-104.
Abstract
PURPOSE The metabolic and circulatory disturbances in patients with septic shock results in a high mortality rate. There is a lack of high-level evidence on the optimal approach. We present a meta-analysis elucidating the outcomes of regimes with only noradrenaline versus a combination of noradrenaline and vasopressin in managing septic shock. METHODS A literature search of studies comparing the use of noradrenaline and vasopressin in septic shock was conducted, using MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. The primary outcome evaluated was mortality rate. Subgroup analysis of secondary measures was also conducted using Review Manager 5.3 software. RESULTS Four RCTs of 1039 patients were included. There is good evidence supporting a comparable mortality rate (RR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.78, 1.08, p=.32, I(2)=0%), and moderate evidence supporting an equivalent length of ICU stay (MD: 0.14, 95% CI: -1.37, 1.65, p=.86, I(2)=46%) and occurrence of adverse events (RR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.83, 1.70, p=.35, I(2)=13%) between the two cohorts. CONCLUSION The two regimes have equivalent outcomes, but vasopressin has a role in selected patients experiencing less severe septic shock beyond a 36-h period. Further work will make definitive clinical recommendations for optimal strategy of vasopressin or noradrenaline usage.
2.
Damage control resuscitation in patients with severe traumatic hemorrhage: a practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma
Cannon JW, Khan MA, Raja AS, Cohen MJ, Como JJ, Cotton BA, Dubose JJ, Fox EE, Inaba K, Rodriguez CJ, et al
The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. 2017;82((3)):605-617.
Abstract
BACKGROUND The resuscitation of severely injured bleeding patients has evolved into a multi-modal strategy termed damage control resuscitation (DCR). This guideline evaluates several aspects of DCR including the role of massive transfusion (MT) protocols, the optimal target ratio of plasma (PLAS) and platelets (PLT) to red blood cells (RBC) during DCR, and the role of recombinant activated factor VII (rVIIa) and tranexamic acid (TXA). METHODS Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, a subcommittee of the Practice Management Guidelines (PMG) Section of EAST conducted a systematic review using MEDLINE and EMBASE. Articles in English from1985 through 2015 were considered in evaluating four PICO questions relevant to DCR. RESULT A total of 37 studies were identified for analysis, of which 31 met criteria for quantitative meta-analysis. In these studies, mortality decreased with use of an MT/DCR protocol vs. no protocol (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.43-0.87, p = 0.006) and with a high ratio of PLASRBC and PLT:RBC (relatively more PLAS and PLT) vs. a low ratio (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.46-0.77, p < 0.0001; OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.28-0.71, p = 0.0003). Mortality and blood product use were no different with either rVIIa vs. no rVIIa or with TXA vs. no TXA. CONCLUSION DCR can significantly improve outcomes in severely injured bleeding patients. After a review of the best available evidence, we recommend the use of a MT/DCR protocol in hospitals that manage such patients and recommend that the protocol target a high ratio of PLAS and PLT to RBC. This is best achieved by transfusing equal amounts of RBC, PLAS, and PLT during the early, empiric phase of resuscitation. We cannot recommend for or against the use of rVIIa based on the available evidence. Finally, we conditionally recommend the in-hospital use of TXA early in the management of severely injured bleeding patients.