Vasopressin administration in refractory cardiac arrest

Article Abstract:

Injecting vasopressin may prove to be a promising new technique during cardiopulmonary resuscitation when other measures fail. Vasopressin has been shown to work better than epinephrine, the standard drug, in animal studies, and human studies reveal that higher levels of internally produced vasopressin are associated with increased survival rates in cases of cardiac arrest. Doctors injected vasopressin in eight cases of cardiac arrest where prolonged efforts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation using standard techniques had failed. All incidents occurred within the hospital and in all but one, resuscitation was initiated within one minute of cardiac arrest. Five patients died, including two patients who survived an ensuing 24 and 80 hours. The remaining three patients survived to hospital discharge with good neurologic recovery. Four cases are discussed in detail, of which two died and two survived. Vasopressin could, however, have adverse effects, although none were noted in this case series.

Health aspects, Innovations, CPR (First aid), Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

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Vasopressin in asystolic cardiac arrest

Article Abstract:

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology should have a conference as soon as possible in 2004 to consider a study that could revolutionize the treatment of some patients in cardiac arrest. The study found that vasopressin may be more effective than epinephrine for these patients. It was most effective in patients with asystole, which means the heart is not beating at all. These patients normally have a very poor prognosis.

Editorial

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A comparison of vasopressin and epinephrine for out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Article Abstract:

Vasopressin is as effective as epinephrine in treating people who are in cardiac arrest, according to a study of 1,186 people. It was even more effective than epinephrine in patients who had asystole, which is a complete absence of a pulse or heartbeat. Doctors might consider giving such patients vasopressin and then epinephrine.

Epinephrine

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