INOTROPES AND VASOPRESSORS

Course overview

VASOPRESSORS AND INOTROPES ARE MEDICATIONS USED TO CREATE VASOCONSTRICTION OR INCREASE CARDIAC CONTRACTILITY, RESPECTIVELY, IN PATIENTS WITH SHOCK. THE HALLMARK OF SHOCK IS DECREASED PERFUSION TO VITAL ORGANS, RESULTING IN MULTIORGAN DYSFUNCTION AND EVENTUALLY DEATH. VASOPRESSORS INCREASE VASOCONSTRICTION, WHICH LEADS TO INCREASED SYSTEMIC VASCULAR RESISTANCE (SVR). INCREASING THE SVR LEADS TO INCREASED MEAN ARTERIAL PRESSURE (MAP) AND INCREASED PERFUSION TO ORGANS. INOTROPES INCREASE CARDIAC CONTRACTILITY, WHICH IMPROVES CARDIAC OUTPUT (CO), AIDING IN MAINTAINING MAP AND PERFUSION TO THE BODY. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE MODE OF ACTION OF INOTROPES AND VASOPRESSORS, INCLUDING MECHANISM OF ACTION, PHARMACOLOGY, ADVERSE EVENT PROFILES, ELIGIBLE PATIENT POPULATIONS, MONITORING, AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CONDITIONS WHERE VASOPRESSORS AND INOTROPES.