Vasoactive Drugs: Facts and Fallacies

A review of the evidence

The lecture duration is 41min.

0.75 CPD Points, 0.75 CEUs, 0.75 CME credits approval pending.
Accredited by CPDUK, CBRN and Provider Pending.

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Prof. John Myburgh
Professor of Intensive Care Medicine, The George Institute, Australia
Lecture Summary

Physiological facts: Haemodynamics are complex and represent a teleological neurohormonal response to stress. Defence of MAP represents the balance between the afferent and efferent circulations and the compliance of the system. Monitoring is an aid to an overall assessment that must be considered within the clinical context and patient’s trajectory of illness. Pharmacological facts: Catecholamines are hormones that are administered to augment inadequate endogenous responses. Synthetic catecholamines have no established role in clinical practice. Neurohormonal supplementation strategies have limited roles and should be confined to indications established from RCTs. Non-catecholamine inodilators have not been demonstrated to improve patient-centred outcomes in critically ill patients.

Target Audience

Critical Care Doctors
Experienced or advanced Critical Care Nurses

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, you should be able to:

  • Understand the integration of cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology of drugs used to support the failing circulation
  • Recognise the limitations of derived and surrogate indices in determining haemodynamic function
  • Understand the role and application of endogenous catecholamine infusions in supporting the failing circulation
  • Understand the limitations of the use of synthetic vasoactive drugs in critically ill patients