SHOCK

Serum BNP levels < 350pg/mL had a negative predictive value of 95% for ruling out cardiogenic shock in one study of 49 ICU patients with shock (Crit. Care Med. 32:1643, 2004--JW)

Vasopressors for treatment of shock:

Dopamine
Norepinephrine
Phenylephrine
In a study in 1,679 adults with septic, cardiogenic, or hypovolemic shock ((SBP < 100mm Hg OR MAP < 70mm Hg) + signs of tissue hypoperfusion) randomized to dopamine vs. norephinephrine (with open-label norepinephrine added if hypotension persisted despite maximal dose of either), there was no sig. diff. in 28d mortality but in the subgroup of pts with cardiogenic shock, dopamine was associated with sig. higher mortality and higher incidence of arrhythmia (NEJM 362:779, 2010-AFP)