The use of adrenaline, methoxamine and vasopressin in cardiopulmonary and cerebral resuscitation of dogs

The objective of this review is to summarise current research in the use of three different vasopressors for cardiopulmonary arrest. Both experimental and clinical studies from human and veterinary literature are employed to assess the efficacy of these vasopressors and to recognise potential for current use of the drugs in veterinary emergency medicine. Adrenaline is the most effective vasopressor available, however, high doses of adrenaline are detrimental to the post-resuscitative period. The use of methoxamine avoids some of the adverse effects of adrenaline but its efficacy as an adequate vasopressor for cardiopulmonary and cerebral resuscitation is questionable. Although vasopressin has been shown to be superior to adrenaline in many recent laboratory studies, clinical research evidence for the use of vasopressin in cardiopulmonary arrest is inadequate