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Rational use of inotropes

2006, Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine

Inotropes are pharmacological agents that affect the force or energy of ventricular muscle contraction, and which often have effects on other variables such as heart rate, preload and afterload, and peripheral vascular tone. The use of such agents is commonplace in perioperative or critical care, and the indications for their use are multiple and not confined to their inotropic actions. No inotrope exerts its effect purely by altering myocardial contractility, therefore the potentially useful effects on heart rate, systemic and pulmonary vascular tone and the side effects of these agents must be taken into account when choosing an appropriate agent. The choice of inotrope is influenced by the therapeutic goal, which is seldom an elevation in systemic blood pressure alone. The purpose of manipulating a patient's haemodynamics in the acute situation is to ensure the adequate delivery of oxygen to vital tissues (to avoid or treat shock). The causes of inadequate oxygen delivery are: • a cardiac output insufficient to meet the demands of the body or organ • low perfusion pressure despite an adequate cardiac output.