Background Vasoplegic syndrome is a common complication after cardiac surgery and
impacts negatively on patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether
vasopressin is superior to norepinephrine in reducing postoperative complications in
patients with vasoplegic syndrome. Methods This prospective, randomized, double-blind
trial was conducted at the Heart Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil,
between January 2012 and March 2014. Patients with vasoplegic shock (defined as mean …

We read with great interest Hajjar et al.'s article1 that was published in the January 2017
issue of ANESTHESIOLOGY. Norepinephrine, the most commonly recommended
vasopressor agent for vasoplegic shock states, can cause unfortunate side effects; therefore,
researchers strive to find a therapeutic alternative. Several small trials have already
evaluated the efficacy of vasopressin in postoperative vasoplegic shock with promising
results. Hajjar et al.'s choice to design a randomized, controlled trial versus a reference …