Dr Ben Aston1, Dr Kate Allen1
1Lifeflight, Toowoomba, Australia
Abstract:
This presentation reviews and outlines our recent publication surrounding the use of Vasopressin in retrieval medicine, to determine the number of patients retrieved by aeromedical teams for septic shock requiring vasopressor support who meet criteria for vasopressin therapy under the Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2021 guidelines.This research was performed via a retrospective chart review of patients transferred by LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine on vasopressors over 2 years. The vasopressor agents available at the time of research were Adrenaline, NorAdrenaline, and Metaraminol. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines recommend Vasopressin as a second line agent after NorAdrenaline for septic shock, and this research reviews how many patients would have be indicated for this therapy in the current cohort of aeromedical patients.
Our findings showed that 1,158 patients were retrieved on vasopressor therapy, with 428 requiring infusions for septic shock. One hundred and fifteen of these met criteria for administration of vasopressin under Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines.
We conclude that a sufficient percentage of patients on vasopressors for septic shock require vasopressin therapy to meet current best treatment guidelines, and the inclusion of vasopressin in retrieval drug kits should be considered by Australian aeromedical services. This research was presented at the Lifeflight Clinical Governance Day 2022, resulting in the addition of vasopressin to the Lifeflight drug kit. Ongoing research regarding the utilisation of this medication is planned.
Biographies:
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