Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Pages: 1018-1029

Journal: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia

Volume number: 35

Issue number: 4

ISSN: 1053-0770

eISSN: 1532-8422

Open access status: Green

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jvca.2020.11.032

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 

Hemodynamic conditions with reduced systemic vascular resistance commonly are observed in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and may range from moderate reductions in vascular tone, as a side effect of general anesthetics, to a profound vasodilatory syndrome, often referred to as vasoplegic shock. Therapy with vasopressors is an important pillar in the treatment of these conditions. There is limited guidance on the appropriate choice of vasopressors to restore and optimize systemic vascular tone in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A panel of experts in the field convened to develop statements and evidence-based recommendations on clinically relevant questions on the use of vasopressors in cardiac surgical patients, using a critical appraisal of the literature following the GRADE system and a modified Delphi process.

The authors unanimously and strongly recommend against using dopamine for treating post-cardiac surgery vasoplegic shock and against using methylene blue for purposes other than a rescue therapy. The authors unanimously and weakly recommend that clinicians consider early addition of a second vasopressor (norepinephrine or vasopressin) if adequate vascular tone cannot be restored by a monotherapy with either norepinephrine or vasopressin and to consider using vasopressin as a first-line vasopressor or to add vasopressin to norepinephrine in cardiac surgical patients with pulmonary hypertension or right-sided heart dysfunction. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Harvard Citation style: Guarracino, F., Habicher, M., Treskatsch, S., Sander, M., Szekely, A., Paternoster, G., et al. (2021) Vasopressor Therapy in Cardiac Surgery-An Experts' Consensus Statement, Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia, 35(4), pp. 1018-1029. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jvca.2020.11.032

APA Citation style: Guarracino, F., Habicher, M., Treskatsch, S., Sander, M., Szekely, A., Paternoster, G., Salvi, L., Lysenko, L., Gaudard, P., Giannakopoulos, P., Kilger, E., Rompola, A., Haeberle, H., Knotzer, J., Schirmer, U., Fellahi, J., Hajjar, L., Kettner, S., Groesdonk, H., ...Heringlake, M. (2021). Vasopressor Therapy in Cardiac Surgery-An Experts' Consensus Statement. Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia. 35(4), 1018-1029. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jvca.2020.11.032