2. VASOACTIVE DRUGS
Vasopressors Ionotropes
Increase the force of contraction
of myocardial muscle
Positive ionotropism
Stimulates smooth muscle
contraction of the capillaries &
arteries
Vasoconstriction
Rise in Mean Blood Pressure
Improved tissue perfusion and oxygenation
3. VASOPRESSORS
↑MAP = CO x↑SVR
~ 1
↓r4
HR x SV
PRELOAD
CONTRACTILITY
AFTERLOAD
NORADRENALINE
VASOPRESSIN
14. • α1 and α2 stimulation result in increased systemic and
pulmonary vascular resistance.
• Cardiac a1-receptors increase contractility and decrease the heart
rate
• Β1 stimulation results in increased contractility (inotropy), heart
rate (chronotropy), and conduction (dromotropy)
• Β2 stimulation results in peripheral vasodilation and
bronchodilation
15. • Inotropes with vasoconstrictive (α) properties can be combined
with vasodilators to improve contractility while avoiding an
increase in SVR (e.g., norepinephrine with nitoprusside)
• Inotropes with vasodilator properties can be combined with α-
agonists to maintain SVR (e.g. milirinone with neosynephrine or
norepinephrine)
• Catecholamines can be combined with the PDE inhibitors to
provide synergistic inotropic effects while achieving pulmonary
and systemic vasodilation (e.g., epinephrine with milrinone)