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CHAPTER 33 VASOPRESSIN VS. EPINEPHRINE FOR CARDIAC ARREST
Vasopressin vs. Epinephrine for Inhospital Cardiac Arrest: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Steill IG, Hébert PC, Wells GA, et al. Lancet. 2001;358(9276):105–109
BACKGROUND
With an estimated 300,000 cardiac arrests in North America annually, and only a 6% survival among those requiring epinephrine, there is great room to improve survival. A small study preceding this work showed a significant survival benefit in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients treated with vasopressin vs. epinephrine. This study looked to formally evaluate vasopressin as an alternative to epinephrine in a randomized controlled design in the inpatient setting.
OBJECTIVES
To compare the efficacy of vasopressin to epinephrine in the inpatient cardiac arrest setting.
METHODS
Triple-blinded, randomized trial in the EDs, critical care units and wards of three Canadian teaching hospitals.