Terlipressin in catecholamine-resistant hyperdynamic shock patients after cardiac surgery

Norepinephrine is favored in the treatment of hyperdynamic shock after cardiac surgery because of its reliable effectiveness to achieve an adequate medium arterial pressure. In some patients, however, norepinephrine may fail to restore blood pressure. Terlipressin can be used to reverse hypotension in patients with norepinephrine-resistant shock. We sought to determine the effects of terlipressin on hemodynamics, perfusion parameters and renal function in shock patients after cardiac surgery not responsive to high-dose norepinephrine (>0.5 μ/kg/min).