- 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. 170) Pulmonary vasodilators in critical illness
- Chapter:
- (p. 170) Pulmonary vasodilators in critical illness
- Author(s):
Benjamin Chousterman
and Didier Payen
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199600830.003.0039
Pulmonary vasodilators (PV) are commonly used in the intensive care unit (ICU) to treat pulmonary hypertension and/or hypoxaemia. The choice of drug is based on its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. The inhaled route of administration is preferred to treat hypoxaemia as it improves the ventilation/perfusion ratio. Systemic administration of PVs can lead to a decrease of mean arterial pressure and a worsening of hypoxaemia. Despite their beneficial effects, PVs have not shown improvement in mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. Rebound of hypoxaemia and/or pulmonary arterial hypertension should be prevented during PV treatment discontinuation with a slow de-escalation protocol. This chapter reviews the use of the main PV available for use 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