Vasopressin Is Best Drug for Some Cases of Cardiac Arrest

A study has found that in certain patients with cardiac arrest, vasopressin is better than adrenaline, the standard emergency treatment. The results were reported in the January 8, 2004, issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

The study involved 1,186 people with cardiac arrest. The overall survival rate for the two drugs was the same. However, in patients with asystole, in which pulse and electrical activity have ceased, 12 patients out of 257 taking vasopressin survived, while only four of 262 taking adrenaline survived. Almost two-thirds of all patients in the study required more than two doses of medicine to restart their hearts. Of these, almost 23 of 369 survived who were given vasopressin first, but only six of the 355 survived who were given adrenaline first. The study did not include patients revived by electrical shocks but did include patients for whom defibrillation failed or was inappropriate. Patients in the study also received emergency treatment, including rescue breathing and chest compressions.

The study was conducted by Dr. Volker Wenzel, University of Innsbruck (Austria). According to Dr.Wenzel, vasopressin shifts the flow of blood away from the skin, legs, abdomen, and muscles, and toward the brain and heart. He reported that he now gives both drugs to all adults with cardiac arrest.




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U. of Innsbruck