Dexmedetomidine Improve Microcirculatory Alterations in Initial Resuscitated Septic Shock Patients

Septic shock is characterized by significant decline in vascular response and relative hypovolemia. Fluids and exogenous catecholamines are mainstay. However, even after initial resuscitation, microcirculatory dysfunctions still exist, and represent a direct physiologic link to organ failure and death. Therefore, therapeutic strategies aiming at improving microcirculation are performed.

Dexmedetomidine was found might be beneficial to sepsis. Dexmedetomidine were found to improve microcirculation in sepsis animal studies and non-sepsis patients. However, the effect of dexmedetomidine on microcirculation in septic shock patients is unknown.

Based on the hypothesis that dexmedetomidine might improve microcirculation in initial resuscitated septic shock patients, the study was to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on microcirculation in early septic shock patients despite initial resuscitation. Meanwhile, to observe the possible mechanism of the effect, the correlation between dexmedetomidine dose and microcirculatory parameters as well as catecholamine level were performed.