Abstract
Objective: Vasopressin has been reported to increase blood pressure in patients with septic shock. However vasopressin has an intense vasoconstriction effect that may decrease the splanchnic blood flow. There is no report of the effect of vasopressin on the splanchnic blood flow. Methods: We administered vasopressin of 0.016 U·min−1 in 10 patients with norepinephrine-resistant septic shock. We measured the blood flows of liver and kidney by Duplex Doppler Examination before and during a continuous infusion of vasopressin. Results: The peak velocities of the portal vein, the hepatic artery and the interlobar arteries of the kidney with vasopressin changed 105±48% (mean±SD), 101±24% and 114±43%, respectively, compared with those without vasopressin. The resistive index of the hepatic artery and the interlobar arteries of the kidney changed 98±10% and 100±5%, respectively. Conclusions: Hepatic and renal blood flows were maintained during a continuous infusion of a small amount of vasopressin in patients with septic shock.
