Guest guest Posted March 18, 2007 Report Share Posted March 18, 2007 I am beginning to believe that epinephrine is probably harmful in cardiac arrest. It may have a role in the 4-10 minute post arrest phase (circulatory phase) but not before and not after. Failure of long-term survival from cardiac arrest has been attributed to translocation of gram negative bacterial flora (with their potent cardiotoxic endotoxins) from the gut to the circulation following failure of the sodium/potassium pump in cells protecting the organism from the gut flora. Epinephrine and vasopressin causes significant interruption of blood flow to the gut thus facilitating bacterial translocation and perhaps, in effect, sentence the patient to death eventually despite immediate resuscitation. If we are unable to show human benefit from epinephrine or vasopressin, why use it? BEB E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP Midlothian, Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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