Objective: To identify factors associated with outcome of septic shock patients receiving high dose noradrenaline according to three primary infection sites.
Methods: This retrospective study was based on data from a publicly available ICU database (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care [MIMIC] III. Septic shock patients receiving high dose (≥1 μg/kg per min) noradrenaline and ≥18 years were identified and their characteristics and outcomes were compared according to three primary infection sites (abdominal, respiratory and urinary tract).
Results: 154 septic shock patients who received high doses of noradrenaline were identified; (89 [58%] had a respiratory infection, 41 [27%] an abdominal infection and 24 [16%] a urinary infection). There were no differences among the three infection groups in duration/maximum dosage of noradrenaline, length of stay in the ICU/hospital, do not resuscitate (DNR) rates, hypertension and adequate antimicrobial therapy. Patients with urinary infections had a lower risk of death at 28-days compared with those with abdominal or respiratory infections.
Conclusions: The prognosis for septic shock patients receiving high dose noradrenaline is poor. Patients with abdominal or respiratory infections are at higher risk of death compared with those with urinary infections.
Keywords: Septic shock; abdominal; noradrenaline; respiratory; urinary; vasopressor.