... levels of arterialpressure, they may not favorably affect capillary perfusionand, thereby, mitigate the failure of oxygen and other sub-strate delivery and exchange. In the present issue of CriticalCare, ... are reminded of yesteryear, when purgatives and bloodletting were the established therapies. In the 18th and even the 19th centuries, these were intended to rid the patient’sbody of the injurious ... routineadministration of adrenergic vasopressor therapy therefore may failto reverse the primary defect. The largely universal treatment of hypotension associatedwith cardiogenic, distributive...