Comparison of vasopressin-first weaning versus norepinephrine-first weaning in critically ill patients

Septic shock is a critical condition requiring vasopressor support and mechanical ventilation. The sequence of vasopressor weaning may affect clinical outcomes, such as mechanical ventilation duration and patient survival.

This study assesses how vasopressor weaning order affects hemodynamic stability, clinical outcomes, and the length of mechanical ventilation in critically ill septic shock patients.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from January 2022 to December 2023. Critically ill adult patients receiving intravenous norepinephrine and vasopressin for septic shock and requiring mechanical ventilation were included. Patients were classified into two groups: vasopressin weaned first or norepinephrine weaned first. The duration of mechanical ventilation was the main outcome. These were secondary outcomes: mean arterial pressure (MAP) stability, 30-day and in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit and hospital, and rates of reintubation.

Among 100 patients (mean age: 65.1 ± 19.7 years; 58% male), vasopressin was weaned first in 47 patients (47%) and norepinephrine first in 53 (53%). Patients extubated while on vasopressors (vasopressin weaned first) had a shorter median duration of mechanical ventilation (4 days) and lower odds of mortality (adjusted OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.09 - 0.98; p = 0.046) compared to those weaned off norepinephrine first. No significant differences were observed in reintubation rates or LOS.

Weaning vasopressin before norepinephrine may be associated with improved survival and reduced mechanical ventilation duration in septic shock patients, although further research is needed to validate these findings and optimize vasopressor weaning strategies.