vasopressor and anti arrhythmics Flashcards
Medications used to raise blood pressure in cases of hypotension
o Medications that constrict blood vessels, raising blood pressure
o Used primarily in shock and critical care settings to manage hypotension
o Increase systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and/or cardiac output to improve perfusion to vital organs
vasopressors
Drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
o Aim to restore normal sinus rhythm, control heart rate, or prevent arrhythmia recurrence
anti-arrhythmics
ability or property of muscle to shorten, or become reduced
in size, or develop increased tension
contractility
influencing the contractility of muscular tissue (strength of
contraction)
inotropic
drug causing constriction of blood vessels
vasopressor
affecting the rate of rhythmic movements such as the
heartbeat (rate of contraction)
Chronotropic
process of sodium excretion in the urine through the action of the kidneys
natriuresis
amount of venous return to the ventricle
preload
exert effect through α-1, β-1, & β-2
catecholamines
enhanced myocardial contractility
B-1 stimulation
vasodilation in vascular smooth muscle cells through
increased intracellular Ca2+ uptake
B-2 stimulation
smooth muscle contraction and an increase in systemic
vascular resistance
α-1 Stimulation
renal vasodilation through dopaminergic receptors in the kidney
D-1 and D-2 Stimulation
First-line for septic shock
Norepinephrine (Levophed)
Used in anaphylaxis and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS)
Epinephrine:
Used for various shock states, with dose-dependent effects
dopamine
Often adjunct in septic shock
vasopressin
Pure α1 agonist, used in hypotension with a low heart rate
Phenylephrine
inotropes
Dobutamine
Milrinone
Preferred vasopressor in septic shock and ACLS post-ROSC
Norepinephrine (NE) (levophed)
MOA:
o Large ↑ vasoconstriction and modest ↑ in CO
o Potent α-1 agonist effect (vasoconstriction) with modest β-1 agonist effect (increase
HR and contractility)
o Reflex bradycardia usually occurs in response to the ↑ MAP
Norepinephrine (NE) (levophed)
ADR of Norepinephrine (NE) (levophed)
Prolonged NE infusion can cause direct cardiac toxicity
Arrhythmias, bradycardia, peripheral (digital) ischemia, HTN with non-selective BB
Indications:
* Treatment of anaphylaxis, ACLS (asystole/PEA, pulseless VT/VF)
* 2nd-line agent in septic shock (after NE), management of hypotension after coronary artery bypast graft surgery (CABG)
Epinephrine (Epi) (Adrenaline)
MOA:
* Potent β-1 agonist (cardiac stimulation) and moderate β-2 (bronchodilation) and α-1 agonists
o β effects > @ low doses
o α-1 effects > @ higher doses (vasoconstriction)
Epinephrine (Epi) (Adrenaline)
Effects:
* Low doses: ↑ CO and ↓ PVR
* β-1 inotropic and chronotropic effects
* β-2 and α-1 effects offset
* High doses: ↑ PVR and ↑ CO (alpha predominates at higher doses)
Epinephrine (Epi) (Adrenaline)
ADR of Epinephrine (Epi) (Adrenaline)
ADRs:
* Ventricular arrhythmias
* Severe HTN resulting in cerebrovascular hemorrhage
* Cardiac ischemia
* Sudden cardiac death
High and prolonged doses can cause direct cardiac toxicity
Indications: hemodynamic support and inotropic support in advanced heart failure
dopamine
MOA:
* Variety of effects depending on the dose
* Low dose (dopamine receptors)
* Moderate dose (beta-1)
* High dose (alpha-1)
* Most often used as a 2nd-line alternative to NE in patients with
absolute or relative bradycardia and a low risk of tachyarrhythmias
* Severe hypotension cardiogenic shock
dopamine
Low-dose: (1-5 mcg/kg/minute): Dopaminergic (D1 and D2
stimulation) dopamine
↑ renal blood flow and urine output (direct effects on renal tubules)
Intermediate-dose: (5-10 mcg/kg/minute): β-1 stimulation dopamine
↑ HR, cardiac contractility, and CO (positive inotropic + chronotropic
effects)
High-dose: (>10 mcg/kg/minute) α-1 activity dominates + some β-1 activity dopamine
Vasoconstriction, ↑ BP + ↑ HR,
cardiac contractility, and CO
Dopamine
ADRs
- Severe hypertension (especially in pts on nonselective β-blockers)
- Ventricular arrhythmias
- Cardiac ischemia
- Tissue ischemia/gangrene (high doses or due to tissue extravasation)
Indications: diabetes insipidus, esophageal variceal bleeding, and vasodilatory shock
* Precise role in vasodilatory shock not fully defined
* Primarily used as a 2nd-line agent in refractory vasodilatory shock (usually septic shock )
* Also used to reduce dose of 1st-line agent
Vasopressin (ADH = antidiuretic hormone)
MOA:
* Stimulates V1 (agonist = constriction of vascular smooth muscle) and V2
receptors (water reabsorption in renal collecting duct)
* Causes less direct coronary and cerebral vasoconstriction than
catecholamines
* Increased systemic vascular resistance and mean arterial blood pressure— may see HR and CO decrease in response (PNS engages and increases vagal tone = less ADH
Vasopressin (ADH = antidiuretic hormone)
Vasopressin (ADH = antidiuretic hormone)
ADRs:
- Arrhythmias
- Hypertension
- Decreased CO
- Cardiac ischemia
- Severe peripheral vasoconstriction causing ischemia (especially skin)
- Rebound hypotension following withdrawal
- Hyponatremia
Indications: (FYI): hyperdynamic sepsis, anesthesia-induced
hypotension
phenylephrine
MOA:
* Vasoconstriction with minimal cardiac inotropy or chronotropy (alpha-1 selective agonist)
* Potential disadvantage: may ↓ stroke volume, so reserved for pts in whom NE is contraindicated due to arrhythmias or who have failed other therapies
Not recommended for septic shock except in the following circumstances: 1) when
norepinephrine (preferred first-line agent) is associated with serious arrhythmias; 2)
when cardiac output is known to be high and BP persistently low; or 3) used as salvage therapy when the combination of vasopressor/inotropic agents and low-dose vasopressin fail to achieve target mean arterial pressure (MAP)
phenylephrine
Clinical use:
* Septic shock (NE)
* Cardiogenic shock (NE + dopamine)
* Anaphylaxis (Epi)
* HOTN with bradycardia
vasopressor summary
vasopressor ADR
- Tachycardia, arrhythmias
- Peripheral ischemia
- HTN
Monitoring: continuous BP monitoring, urine output, titrate based on clinical
response