Lindner KH et al, 1997, Germany | 40 prehospital VF arrests | Prospective randomised double blind trial | Restoration of spontaneous circulation | 55% adrenaline v 80% vasopressin patients (p=0.18) | Only looked at VF |
| Randomised to receive either initial dose vasopressin (40 U) or adrenaline (1 mg) | | GCS on discharge | 10.7 adrenaline v 11.7 vasopressin | Small patient sample |
| | | Survival to discharge | 15 % adrenaline v 40 % vasopressin (p=0.16) | All out of hospital arrests with mean emergency team response times of six minutes |
| | | Spontaneous circulation on admission to hospital | 35% adrenaline v 70% vasopressin (p=0.06) | |
| | | 24 hour survival | 20% adrenaline v 60 % vasopressin (p=0.02) | |
Stiell IG et al, 2001, Canada | 200 patients treated for cardiac arrest in three hospitals. | Prospective randomised double blind trial | Survival to discharge | Vasopressin 12%, adrenaline 14% | Powered only to show a 20% difference in one hour survival |
| | | Presence of pulse and BP for one hour after resuscitation | Vasopressin group 39% Adrenaline group 35% (not significant) | |
| Randomised to receive either initial dose vasopressin (40 U) or adrenaline (1 mg) | | 30 day survival | No difference between groups | |
| | | Neurological function at discharge | No difference between groups | |