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Review
. 2018 Sep;30(3):e1-e9.
doi: 10.1016/j.cnc.2018.05.004. Epub 2018 Jul 13.

Etomidate as an Induction Agent in Sepsis

Raymond J Devlin  1 , David Kalil  2
Affiliations
Review

Etomidate as an Induction Agent in Sepsis

Raymond J Devlin et al. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2018 Sep.

Erratum in

  • Erratum.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2018 Dec;30(4):xiii. doi: 10.1016/j.cnc.2018.10.001. Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2018. PMID: 30447817 No abstract available.

Abstract

Sepsis is a life-threatening response to infection often times requiring endotracheal intubation in critically ill patients. Etomidate is routinely used as an intravenous induction agent to provide sedation and amnesia before placing an endotracheal tube. Although etomidate has many favorable qualities, there is a major concern regarding the predictable adrenal insufficiency that follows its use. Controversy continues to this day as to whether etomidate should be avoided in the setting of sepsis or septic shock.

Keywords: Adrenal insufficiency; Etomidate; Mortality; Rapid sequence induction; Sepsis.

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