Perioperative medicine & outcomes
Vasopressor use after noncardiac surgery: an international observational study
Authors' conclusion
Administration of postoperative vasopressors after noncardiac surgery varied across hospitals and was associated with worse outcomes. Variable practice across hospitals could not be explained by differences in case-mix.
Study context
- Population
- Adults undergoing noncardiac surgery, 228 hospitals in 42 countries, October 2020–October 2023
- Participants
- 25,675 adults · 228 hospitals · 42 countries
- Exposure
- Cohort A vs Cohort B
- Cohort An = 19,768
- Outcome
- Incidence of postoperative vasopressor infusions (any continuous infusion of vasopressors), Cohort A
Methodological detailsinternational, multicentre
- International
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Postoperative vasopressor infusions (Cohort A)
Cohort A
3.9%
770 of 19 768
- Vasopressor use across hospitals ranged between
- 0% and 18%
- Median OR across hospitals
- 2.30 (CrI 1.96-2.73)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
In-hospital mortality, organ failure, hospital LOS with postoperative vasopressor infusions (both cohorts)
- In-hospital mortality with postoperative vasopressor infusions (higher)
- 15.5%
- Higher rates of organ failure and longer hospital stay
Original publication
Vasopressor use after noncardiac surgery: an international observational study. Br J Anaesth. Published 11 August 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →