Association between maximum norepinephrine dosage and mortality risk in neonates with septic shock

Abstract The high-dose usage of norepinephrine is thought to cause high mortality in patients with septic shock. This study aims to explores the correlation between the maximum norepinephrine (NE) dosage (MND) and mortality in neonates with septic shock. This retrospective cohort study included neonates with evidence of septic shock and those who received NE infusion. The study included 123 neonates, with 106 in the survival group and 17 in the death group. The death group exhibited significantly lower birth weight ( p = 0.022), 1-min Apgar score ( p = 0.005), serum albumin ( p 0.3 µg/(kg·min) (OR, 12.08, 95% CI 2.28–64.01) was associated with a significantly higher mortality risk. Spearman rank correlation showed a positive correlation between MND and LAC ( r = 0.252, p = 0.005), vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) ( r = 0.836, p 0.3 µg/(kg min) is a useful predictive marker of mortality in neonatal septic shock.