A patient admitted to the ICU develops septic shock with refractory hypotension despite fluid resuscitation. Which intervention should the healthcare team prioritize to improve the patient's hemodynamic status?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In a patient with septic shock and refractory hypotension despite fluid resuscitation, the healthcare team should prioritize administering vasopressor medications to increase systemic vascular resistance. Vasopressors such as norepinephrine or vasopressin can be used to support blood pressure and perfusion to vital organs by constricting blood vessels and improving blood flow. By increasing systemic vascular resistance, vasopressors help to counteract the excessive vasodilation seen in septic shock and improve hemodynamic stability. It is crucial to address hypotension promptly in septic shock to prevent organ dysfunction and failure. Other interventions, such as fluid removal through continuous renal replacement therapy, assessing cardiac function with echocardiogram, or optimizing oxygen delivery through a transfusion of packed red blood cells, may be considered based on specific patient factors but do not address the primary issue of inadequate perf