Objectives: To determine the effects of an intravenous bolus dose of a vasopressin analogue, terlipressin (1 mg), on systemic haemodynamic parameters and gastric mucosal perfusion (GMP) in patients with catecholamine-treated septic shock using a gastric tonometry and laser-Doppler flowmetry technique.
Design: Prospective open label study.
Settings: Two multidisciplinary intensive care units.
Patients: Fifteen patients with norepinephrine-treated septic shock.
Interventions: Every patient with mean arterial pressure between 50 and 55 mmHg treated with high dose norepinephrine received an intravenous bolus dose of terlipressin as last resort therapy. A laser-Doppler probe and tonometer were introduced into the gastric lumen.
Measurements and main results: Terlipressin produced a decrease in cardiac output ( p<0.05), a progressive increase in mean arterial pressure ( p<0.05) and in GMP, detected by laser-Doppler flowmetry ( p<0.05) over 30 min and sustained for at least 24 h. The ratio of GMP to systemic oxygen delivery increased after terlipressin bolus dose ( p<0.05). The gradient between gastric mucosal and arterial PCO(2) tended to be lower after terlipressin, and the difference was statistically significant ( p<0.05) after 8 h. Terlipressin administration significantly increased ( p<0.05) urine output compared to baseline and higher values were found at each set of measurement. The terlipressin-induced increase in urine output was associated with a significantly increased creatinine clearance ( p<0.05). Reduction of the high-dose norepinephrine was observed in all patients ( p<0.05).
Conclusions: Our findings showed that, in patients with norepinephrine-treated septic shock, terlipressin increased GMP, urine output and creatinine clearance by an increase in mean arterial pressure.