Infographic
The treatment of shock has a number of key components, including obtaining blood cultures,
administering antibiotics, achieving source control, restoring intravascular volume, and maintaining
perfusion through the use of vasoactive agents. A significant literature base exists to guide clinicians
in the selection of vasoactive agents for the treatment of vasodilatory shock. In this infographic, we
describe a recent comprehensive review of agents used for the treatment of vasodilatory shock, with
a particular focus on medications that are recommended as first-, second-, and third-line agents,
along with treatments that are considered rescue and those where the literature basis is still in need
of additional development.
NOREPI indicates norepinephrine.
Copyright © 2019 International Anesthesia Research Society
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www.anesthesia-analgesia.org
The Infographic is composed by Jonathan P. Wanderer, MD, MPhil, Vanderbilt University School
of Medicine (jon.wanderer@vanderbilt.edu), and Naveen Nathan, MD, Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine (n-nathan@northwestern.edu). Illustration by Naveen Nathan, MD.
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
REFERENCE
1. Chow JH, Abuelkasm E, Sankova S, Henderson RA, Mazzeffi MA, Tanaka KA. Reversal of
vasodilatory shock: current perspectives on conventional, rescue, and emerging vasoactive agents
for the treatment of shock. Anesth Analg. 2020;130:15–30.
ANESTHESIA & ANALGESIA