Vasopressin is being used in many of the new cardiac mega code algorithms. This is not to say that the use of epinephrine is taking a back seat not in the least. the American Heart Association realizes that they need to have additional options when considering a presser type medication when the patients in cardiac arrest. Should you have a patient in pulseless  ventricular tachycardia you have the option to use the vasopressin medication over epinephrine.

The ACLS certification course helps us to understand the importance of vasopressin in the treatment of the cardiac arrest patient. We have also implemented the use of Amiodarone over the use of lidocaine. These different medications allows us the opportunity as well as the patient a greater chance of survival. The American Heart Association survival rate for a cardiac arrest is only 6.4% on the national average. So as we can see, it is nice to have vasopressin as another alternative to help resuscitate the cardiac arrest victim.