Maintenance of Perfusion Pressure: How to Choose the Vasoconstriction Drugs?

Shock is a common critical condition of numerous diseases, resulting in multi-organ dysfunction and death. Vasopressors are the essential part of shock management. Catecholamines are the most commonly used vasopressors in the intensive care unit, among which norepinephrine is the first-line therapy in most clinical conditions. Vasopressin and angiotensin Ⅱ may be useful owing to their norepinephrine-sparing effects. Careful selection of vasoconstriction drugs based on desired pharmacologic effects that are matched to the patient's underlying pathophysiology of shock may optimize hemodynamics while reducing the potential for adverse effects.