Study Comparing the Efficacy and Tolerability of Epinephrine and Norepinephrine in Cardiogenic Shock

Cardiogenic Shock

myocardial infarction, epinephrine, norepinephrine, cardiac output

The efficacy and tolerability of norepinephrine and epinephrine in cardiogenic shock after reperfused myocardial infarction will be compared, by following cardiac index evolution as main criteria. The study is a pilot pathophysiological study, randomized, double blind and multicenter.

Cardiogenic shock secondary to myocardial infarction is a frequent pathology in reanimation and is associated with high mortality (50%). Hemodynamic management and notably the choice of vasopressor in cardiogenic shock states secondary to myocardial infarction (cardiac index \< 2.2 l/min/m-2) is not codified. There are two opposite views: a) the first is based on the fact that an hypotensive patient with low cardiac output is primarily in need of an inotropic agent and that, consequently, epinephrine is the molecule of choice (inotropic and vasoconstrictor); b) the second is based on the fact that hypotension also reflects a certain degree of vascular failure and vascular vasoplegia and therefore norepinephrine is the molecule of choice along with, if needed, the eventual addition of dobutamine in order to separately titrate vasoconstriction and inotropism. Study hypotheses: epinephrine could facilitate myocardial function by providing the latter with its preferred substrate (lactate) and thus induce a higher cardiac index along with increased energy expenditure. Norepinephrine is the therapy of choice of hypotensive states; nevertheless its lack of inotropic effect could theoretically exacerbate myocardial failure. Thus, the aim of the study is to compared the efficiency and the tolerability of norepinephrine and epinephrine in cardiogenic shock after reperfused myocardial infarction.

France