Arterial pressure optimization in the treatment of septic shock: a complex puzzle
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* Corresponding author: R Phillip Dellinger Dellinger-Phil@CooperHealth.edu
1 Department of Emergency Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC, 28203, USA
2 Division of Critical Care Medicine, Departments of Medicine and Emergency Medicine, Cooper University Hospital, One Cooper Plaza D393, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
3 Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Cooper University Hospital, One Cooper Plaza D393, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
Critical Care 2009, 14:102 doi:10.1186/cc8194
Published: 19 January 2010Abstract
Arterial pressure optimization in septic shock is a critical, yet poorly understood component of resuscitation. New data suggest that, during the routine management of patients with severe sepsis, there is no association between mean arterial pressure achieved and outcome as long as the mean arterial pressure is maintained at or above 70 mmHg. Although these data add important new evidence to our understanding of arterial pressure management, there are still many unanswered questions upon which future investigations should focus.