Case Study 5 – AB As discussed in case 3, septic shock results from widespread inflammation and vasodilation in response to an infection. Norepinephrine is useful in septic shock because it increases afterload to maintain adequate tissue perfusion (De Becker et al., 2012). Dobutamine is an inotropic drug used in septic shock as it stimulates myocardial beta-adrenergic receptors thus increasing cardiac output by increasing contractility and heart rate (Dellinger et al., 2013; Enrico et al., 2012). As per the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, vasopressin is indicated as an adjuvant medication for the treatment of catecholamine-resistant septic shock (Dellinger et al., 2013). Vasopressin stimulates V1 receptors in vascular smooth muscle resulting in
