Dexmedetomidine and Vasopressin in Septic Shock

Dexmedetomidine and Vasopressin (DEX-PRESSIN) for Reducing In-hospital Mortality in Septic Shock Patients: A Protocol for Randomized Controlled Trial (DecatSepsis-2)

Rudiger and Singer suggested strategies for refining adrenergic stress (decatecholaminization). They proposed the use of dexmedetomidine and vasopressin to reduce the catecholamine load during sepsis. The investigators will use vasopressin as the primary vasopressor and a heart rate-calibrated dexmedetomidine infusion in septic shock patients.

The investigators of the current study will use DEXPRESSIN in septic shock patients to investigate the effects of decatecholaminization on in-hospital mortality.

The investigator will include 260 patients with septic shock. The study will compare the use of vasopressin as the first-line vasopressor in septic shock in addition to the dexmedetomidine infusion as in the DecatSepsis trial versus the standard of care. The standard of care is guided by the Surviving Sepsis campaign in 2021.

The main outcomes of the study are in-hospital mortality, norepinephrine equivalent dose, ICU scores, and inflammatory markers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult patients who develop septic shock in whom a vasopressor is initiated to maintain a mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) of ≥65 mmHg in the presence of sepsis (≥2 SIRS criteria plus suspicion or confirmation of infection).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient refusal or inability to obtain consent
• Failure of hemodynamic stabilization or hemoglobin <7 g/dL at the time of inclusion
• Severe cardiac dysfunction [i.e., ejection fraction (EF) <30%]
• History of heart block or patient on pacemaker
• Severe valvular heart disease
• Chronic liver disease (Child-Pugh classification C)
• Pregnancy
• Patients with traumatic brain injury