Early administration of norepinephrine increases cardiac preload and cardiac output in septic patients with life-threatening hypotension

105 septic-shock patients admitted to the medical ICU for less than 6 hours with life-threatening hypotension (MAP < 65 mm Hg) who had already received volume resuscitation, mean age 63, 71 male / 34 female. Key inclusion: MAP < 65 mm Hg requiring norepinephrine introduction or dose increase, PiCCOplus monitor in place.

Early administration of norepinephrine (introduction or dose increase) to achieve MAP ≥ 65 mm Hg, evaluated at a median interval of 60 minutes.

Changes in transpulmonary thermodilution variables (cardiac index, stroke volume index, global end-diastolic volume index, cardiac function index) associated with the increase in mean arterial pressure induced by norepinephrine.surrogate