Adjunctive Dobutamine Shows No Overall Benefit in Septic Shock: Study
Written By : Medha Baranwal
Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli
Published On 2025-11-28 14:45 GMT | Update On 2025-11-28 14:46 GMT
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Korea: Researchers have found in a new study that adjunctive dobutamine use did not improve short-term organ function or hospital outcomes in patients with septic shock. However, its effectiveness may depend on early fluid balance, suggesting that a more individualized, patient-specific approach is needed when considering dobutamine therapy in septic shock.
A new analysis published in The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
The researchers evaluated adults with septic shock who were already receiving norepinephrine, the first-line vasopressor. Data were collected over a 29-month period, during which 11,981 sepsis cases were screened. From these, 1,827 patients met the criteria for septic shock. Only 108 received dobutamine within the first three days of ICU admission, while 1,719 did not. The average age of participants was 71.4 years, and nearly 60% were male.
To ensure a fair comparison, the team employed propensity score matching, balancing key baseline factors between groups. This resulted in 105 dobutamine-treated patients matched with 209 patients who did not receive the drug.
The key findings of the study were as follows:
- Short-term organ function, reflected by SOFA scores and lactate levels on ICU day three, did not differ between patients who received dobutamine and those who did not.
- Hospital outcomes were also similar, with comparable in-hospital mortality (54.3% vs. 48.3%) and ICU mortality (46.7% vs. 39.2%) rates between the two groups.
- Cox proportional hazards analysis showed no survival benefit from dobutamine, with no significant reduction in in-hospital mortality risk (HR 1.13).
- Subgroup analysis indicated potential harm among patients with the lowest early fluid balance, where dobutamine use was linked to a higher risk of in-hospital mortality.
- These findings suggest that early fluid status may influence the effects of dobutamine, highlighting the need for careful patient selection.
These findings emphasize that a one-size-fits-all approach may not be appropriate for dobutamine use in septic shock. While its routine addition does not appear to improve outcomes, the drug may have different effects depending on a patient’s hemodynamic profile and early resuscitation status.
"Overall, the study highlights the need for individualized decision-making when considering adjunctive dobutamine in septic shock, reinforcing that careful assessment of fluid balance and patient-specific factors remains vital in critical care management," the authors concluded.
Reference:
https://www.kjim.org/m/journal/view.php?number=171073
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