The Effect of a Bolus Dose of Etomidate on Cortisol Levels, Mortality, and Health Services Utilization: A Systematic Review

Study objective

To synthesize the evidence on the effect of a bolus dose of etomidate on adrenal function, mortality, and health services utilization compared with other induction agents used for rapid sequence intubation.

Methods

We developed a systematic search strategy and applied it to 10 electronic bibliographic databases. We hand searched journals; reviewed conference proceedings, gray literature, and bibliographies of relevant literature; and contacted content experts for studies comparing a bolus dose of etomidate with other induction agents. Retrieved articles were reviewed and data were abstracted with standardized forms. Data were pooled with the random-effects model if at least 4 clinically homogenous studies of the same design reported the same outcome measure. All other data were reported qualitatively.

Results

From 3,083 titles reviewed, 20 met our inclusion criteria. Pooled mean cortisol levels were lower in elective surgical patients induced with etomidate compared with those induced with other agents between 1 and 4 hours postinduction. The differences varied from 6.1 μg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.4 to 9.9 μg/dL; P=.001) to 16.4 μg/dL (95% CI 9.7 to 23.1 μg/dL; P<.001). Two studies in critically ill patients reported significantly different cortisol levels up to 7 hours postinduction. None of the studies reviewed, nor our pooled estimate (odds ratio 1.14; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.60), showed a statistically significant effect on mortality. Only one study reported longer ventilator, ICU, and hospital lengths of stay in patients intubated with etomidate.

Conclusion

The available evidence suggests that etomidate suppresses adrenal function transiently without demonstrating a significant effect on mortality. However, no studies to date have been powered to detect a difference in hospital, ventilator, or ICU length of stay or in mortality.