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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008;12(6):R143.
doi: 10.1186/cc7121. Epub 2008 Nov 18.

Phenylephrine versus norepinephrine for initial hemodynamic support of patients with septic shock: a randomized, controlled trial

Andrea Morelli  1 , Christian Ertmer, Sebastian Rehberg, Matthias Lange, Alessandra Orecchioni, Amalia Laderchi, Alessandra Bachetoni, Mariadomenica D'Alessandro, Hugo Van Aken, Paolo Pietropaoli, Martin Westphal
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Phenylephrine versus norepinephrine for initial hemodynamic support of patients with septic shock: a randomized, controlled trial

Andrea Morelli et al. Crit Care. 2008.

Abstract

Introduction: Previous findings suggest that a delayed administration of phenylephrine replacing norepinephrine in septic shock patients causes a more pronounced hepatosplanchnic vasoconstriction as compared with norepinephrine. Nevertheless, a direct comparison between the two study drugs has not yet been performed. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the effects of a first-line therapy with either phenylephrine or norepinephrine on systemic and regional hemodynamics in patients with septic shock.

Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized, controlled trial in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit in a university hospital. We enrolled septic shock patients (n = 32) with a mean arterial pressure below 65 mmHg despite adequate volume resuscitation. Patients were randomly allocated to treatment with either norepinephrine or phenylephrine infusion (n = 16 each) titrated to achieve a mean arterial pressure between 65 and 75 mmHg. Data from right heart catheterization, a thermodye dilution catheter, gastric tonometry, acid-base homeostasis, as well as creatinine clearance and cardiac troponin were obtained at baseline and after 12 hours. Differences within and between groups were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance for repeated measurements with group and time as factors. Time-independent variables were compared with one-way analysis of variance.

Results: No differences were found in any of the investigated parameters.

Conclusions: The present study suggests there are no differences in terms of cardiopulmonary performance, global oxygen transport, and regional hemodynamics when phenylephrine was administered instead of norepinephrine in the initial hemodynamic support of septic shock.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT00639015.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study design. MAP, mean arterial pressure; NE, norepinephrine; PHE, phenylephrine.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Study drug requirements of study patients. Vasopressor dosage throughout the study. #P < 0.05 versus baseline (BL) (significant time effect). *P < 0.05, phenylephrine versus norepinephrine.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Systemic hemodynamics of study patients. Patients' mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac index, and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) throughout the study. #P < 0.05 versus baseline (BL) (significant time effect). *P < 0.05, norepinephrine versus phenylephrine.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Regional hemodynamics of study patients. Patients' blood clearance of indocyanine green related to body surface area (CBI), plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (PDR), gradient between gastric mucosal and arterial pCO2 (pg-aCO2), and arterial lactate concentration throughout the study. BL, baseline.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Variables of renal function. Urine output and creatinine clearance in the two treated patient groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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