- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Part 2.1 Respiratory drugs
- Part 2.2 Cardiovascular drugs
- Chapter 34 Vasopressors in critical illness
- Chapter 35 Vasodilators in critical illness
- Chapter 36 Inotropic agents in critical illness
- Chapter 37 Anti-anginal agents in critical illness
- Chapter 38 Anti-arrhythmics in critical illness
- Chapter 39 Pulmonary vasodilators in critical illness
- Part 2.3 Gastrointestinal drugs
- Part 2.4 Nervous system drugs
- Part 2.5 Hormonal drugs
- Part 2.6 Haematological drugs
- Part 2.7 Antimicrobial and immunological drugs
- Part 2.8 Fluids and diuretics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care
(p. 153) Vasodilators in critical illness
- Chapter:
- (p. 153) Vasodilators in critical illness
- Author(s):
A. B. J. Groeneveld
and Alexandre Lima
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0035
Vasodilators are commonly used in the intensive care unit (ICU) to control arterial blood pressure, unload the left or the right heart, control pulmonary artery pressure, and improve microcirculatory blood flow. Vasodilator refers to drugs acting directly on the smooth muscles of peripheral vessel walls and drugs are usually classified based on their mechanism (acting directly or indirectly) or site of action (arterial or venous vasodilator). Drugs that have a predominant effect on resistance vessels are arterial dilators and drugs that primarily affect venous capacitance vessels are venous dilators. Drugs that interfere with sympathetic nervous system, block renin-angiotensin system, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and nitrates are some examples of drugs with indirect effect. Vasodilator drugs play a major therapeutic role in hypertensive emergencies, primary and secondary pulmonary hypertension, acute left heart, and circulatory shock. This review discusses the main types of vasodilators drugs commonly used in the ICU.
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- Section 1 ICU organization and management
- Section 2 Pharmacotherapeutics
- Part 2.1 Respiratory drugs
- Part 2.2 Cardiovascular drugs
- Chapter 34 Vasopressors in critical illness
- Chapter 35 Vasodilators in critical illness
- Chapter 36 Inotropic agents in critical illness
- Chapter 37 Anti-anginal agents in critical illness
- Chapter 38 Anti-arrhythmics in critical illness
- Chapter 39 Pulmonary vasodilators in critical illness
- Part 2.3 Gastrointestinal drugs
- Part 2.4 Nervous system drugs
- Part 2.5 Hormonal drugs
- Part 2.6 Haematological drugs
- Part 2.7 Antimicrobial and immunological drugs
- Part 2.8 Fluids and diuretics
- Section 3 Resuscitation
- Section 4 The respiratory system
- Section 5 The cardiovascular system
- Section 6 The gastrointestinal system
- Section 7 Nutrition
- Section 8 The renal system
- Section 9 The neurological system
- Section 10 The metabolic and endocrine systems
- Section 11 The haematological system
- Section 12 The skin and connective tissue
- Section 13 Infection
- Section 14 Inflammation
- Section 15 Poisoning
- Section 16 Trauma
- Section 17 Physical disorders
- Section 18 Pain and sedation
- Section 19 General surgical and obstetric intensive care
- Section 20 Specialized intensive care
- Section 21 Recovery from critical illness
- Section 22 End-of-life care