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Ammar MA, Ammar AA, Wieruszewski PM, Bissell BD, M TL, Albert L, Khanna AK, Sacha GL: Timing of vasoactive agents and corticosteroid initiation in septic shock. Ann Intensive Care 2022; 12: 47

August 26, 2022

Abstract
Septic shock remains a health care concern associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock recommend early fluid resuscitation and antimi- crobials. Beyond initial management, the guidelines do not provide clear recommendations on appropriate time to initiate vasoactive therapies and corticosteroids in patients who develop shock. This review summarizes the literature regarding time of initiation of these interventions. Clinical data regarding time of initiation of these therapies in rela- tion to shock onset, sequence of treatments with regard to each other, and clinical markers evaluated to guide initia- tion are summarized. Early-high vasopressor initiation within first 6 h of shock onset is associated with lower mortality. Following norepinephrine initiation, the exact dose and timing of escalation to adjunctive vasopressor agents are not well elucidated in the literature. However, recent data indicate that timing may be an important factor in initiating vasopressors and adjunctive therapies, such as corticosteroids. Norepinephrine-equivalent dose and lactate concen- tration can aid in determining when to initiate vasopressin and angiotensin II in patients with septic shock. Future guidelines with clear recommendations on the time of initiation of septic shock therapies are warranted.
Keywords: Sepsis, Septic shock, Resuscitation fluids, Vasoactive agents, Catecholamines, Vasopressin, Angiotensin II, Corticosteroids