In septic shock, doctors can safely wait before adding a second blood-pressure drug, a JAMA trial finds

Septic shock — when infection sends blood pressure dangerously low — forces a hard bedside question: when a first pressure-raising medicine is not enough, should doctors add a second one, vasopressin, early or wait? An Intermountain Health study published in JAMA on October 14 answers it directly: waiting to see whether a patient worsens before starting vasopressin did not worsen outcomes. Led by critical care physician Ithan Peltan, the trial means thousands of patients a year can be spared costly infusions they may never need — and those who do need the drug still get it in time.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: tech innovation