2. Aim and Objective
Functional overview of how inotropes and vasoactive
drugs work.
Explore nursing considerations.
Discuss case examples.
Hopefully end up feeling more confident.
3. It’s all about the Oxygen
For tissues to be oxygenated, 3 factors need
to be considered:
1) Oxygen transfer across the alveolar-capillary
membrane
2) Oxygen attachment to haemaglobin
3) Adequate cardiac output (CO) to move the
oxyhaemaglobin compound to the tissues – this is
what we are talking about!
18. How do we treat this stuff?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMGIbOGu8q0
19. Let’s talk drugs!
In the context of the SNS, drugs:
Mimic or impair (stimulate or block)
Directly (agonist or antagonist)
Indirectly
- releasing endogenous Norad (metaraminol,
ephedrine at a1)
20. Let’s talk drugs!
In the context of the PNS,
drugs work on:
Nicotinic and
muscarinic receptors
with Ach as
neurotransmitter
M2 heart
21. Atropine - PNS
Anticholinergic drug – works as a competitive
antagonist in muscarinic receptors (M2 = Heart)
Blocks slow – down signals to the heart.
22. Adrenaline - SNS
Non-selective b and
a agonist
+inotrope and
chronotrope
Vasodilates at low
dose, constricts at
high dose
Bronchial smooth
muscle relaxant
Use in asthma?
23. Noradrenaline - SNS
Acts predominantly on
alpha-receptors and beta-
receptors in the heart.
Causes peripheral
vasoconstriction (alpha-
adrenergic action) and a
positive inotropic effect on
the heart and dilatation of
coronary arteries (beta-
adrenergic action).
Why is it important to
assess adequate fluid
loading?
24. Dobutamine - SNS
Direct acting inotropic whose primary
activity results from stimulation of the
beta-receptors of the heart while
producing comparatively mild
chronotropic, hypertensive,
arrhythmogenic and vasodilative effects.
It does not cause the release of
endogenous noradrenaline as does
dopamine
Used for heart failure for the above
reasons
250mg vials
25. Vasopressin (ADH)
increase resorption of water by the renal
tubules
Cause contraction of smooth muscle of the
gastrointestinal tract and of all parts of the
vascular bed, especially the capillaries,
small arterioles and venules, with less
effect on the smooth musculature of the
large veins.
20IU/ml
26. Metaraminol - SNS
Increases both systolic and diastolic blood
pressure.
The pressor effect begins one to two
minutes after intravenous injection, and
lasts about 20 minutes to one hour.
Positive inotropic effect on the heart and
has a peripheral vasoconstrictor action.
Potent sympathomimetic – alpha agonist
effects, mild beta 1 effects.
27. Ephedrine – SNS
Stimulates both alpha and beta-adrenergic
receptors indirectly and also releases endogenous
noradrenaline from its storage site (particularly
observed in the substantia nigra).
Often used in OT due to strong direct evidence
base lying in anaesthetic hypotension.
28. Phenylephrine - SNS
Used mostly in OT
Produces vasoconstriction that lasts longer than that of
adrenaline and ephedrine.
Responses are more sustained than those to adrenaline,
lasting 20 minutes after intravenous and as long as 50
minutes after subcutaneous injection.
Its action on the heart opposite to adrenaline and
ephedrine, in that it slows the heart rate and increases
the stroke output, producing no disturbance in the
rhythm
Powerful postsynaptic alpha-receptor stimulant with
little effect on the beta-receptors of the heart.
A singular advantage of this drug is the fact that repeated
injections produce comparable effects.
29. GTN – Direct Vasoactive
Glyceryl trinitrate produces a dose related
dilation of both arterial and venous beds.
Decreases venous return to the heart,
reducing left ventricular end diastolic
pressure and pulmonary capillary wedge
pressure (preload).
Arteriolar relaxation reduces systemic
vascular resistance and arterial pressure
(afterload).
Also dilates the coronary arteries, although
this effect is short-lived.
30. These are also out there
Some less frequently used drugs
31. Dopamine - SNS
Stimulates alpha, beta and dopamine receptors.
Precursor to noradrenaline chemically
At infusion rates of 0.5 to 2 microgram/kg/minute,
dopamine receptors are selectively activated and blood
pressure either does not change or decreases slightly.
Causes renal and mesenteric vasodilatation - Renal plasma
flow, glomerular filtration rate and sodium excretion usually
increase.
At infusion rates of 2 to 10 microgram/kg/minute, beta1-
receptors are activated and cardiac output and systolic
blood pressure increase.
The total peripheral resistance is relatively unchanged
because of peripheral vasoconstriction (alpha effect) and
muscle vasodilatation (beta effect).
At infusion rates above 10 microgram/kg/minute, alpha-
receptors are activated, causing vasoconstriction, and both
systolic and diastolic pressures increase
200mg Ampoules
32. Isoprenaline
Acts on the heart, smooth muscle of bronchi,
skeletal muscle vasculature and gastrointestinal
tract.
Increases cardiac output due to its positive
inotropic and chronotropic actions and by
increasing venous return.
Also lowers peripheral vascular resistance.
The rate of discharge of cardiac pacemakers is
increased.
Great option in complete heart block.
33. Milrinone
Selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor which has
positive inotropic and vasodilatory activity.
Milrinone improves hemodynamics and
biventricular function in patients with
ventricular dysfunction by increasing stroke
volume index, increasing left ventricular
contractility, producing pulmonary vasodilation.
Used in heart failure due to minimal
chronotropic effect
34. Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP) – Direct Vasoactive
Potent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and
consequent dilatation of peripheral arteries and
veins.
Non-selective compared to GTN .
35. Levosimendan
Developed for the treatment of decompensated heart
failure and is used intravenously when patients with
heart failure require immediate initiation of drug
therapy.
It increases the sensitivity of the heart to calcium, thus
increasing cardiac contractility without a rise in
intracellular calcium.
Exerts its effect by increasing calcium sensitivity of
myocytes by binding to cardiac troponin C in a calcium-
dependent manner.
It also has a vasodilatory effect, by opening adenosine
triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channels in
vascular smooth muscle to cause smooth muscle
relaxation.
36. Ok…….
Inotropic drugs are potentially dangerous so
be very thorough checking.
Vascular access needs to be spot on.
On central line always endeavour to use
distal, brown lumen (in furthest)
Wear gloves when preparing.
Know what the drug does and why we use
it.
Don’t EVER make a mistake with
inotropes!!!