Final answer:
Vasopressin, an antidiuretic and vasoconstrictor hormone, is no longer recommended in the 2015 AHA guidelines for routine use as a vasopressor in cardiac arrest management, as it showed no advantage over epinephrine.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has inquired about the use of vasopressin in the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines as of 2015. Vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH), helps the body conserve water when body fluid volume is low. It is produced by the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland. The hormone facilitates the insertion of aquaporins in the collecting ducts of the kidneys, which promotes the reabsorption of water back into the bloodstream.
Additionally, vasopressin acts as a vasoconstrictor and can increase blood pressure during episodes of hemorrhaging. However, as per the AHA guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) that were updated in 2015, vasopressin is no longer recommended as a routine vasopressor in cardiac arrest management. The 2015 guidelines suggest that it provides no advantage over epinephrine in cardiac arrest treatment.