Cardiovascular Drugs

Given the dynamic nature of the operating room environment, anesthesiologists must be prepared to handle cardiovascular comorbidities and complications.  From perioperative hypertension to cardiovascular shock to cardiac arrhythmias, one must be able to diagnose and treat a wide range of cardiovascular conditions.  We will evaluate recent literature to determine the best treatment modalities for the treatment of acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, vasoplegia after cardiopulmonary bypass, pulmonary hypertension, septic shock, perioperative hypertension, and cardiac arrhythmias.  Selection of appropriate inotropic medications and vasopressors may improve mortality in shock.  Treatment of pulmonary hypertension, perioperative hypertension, and arrhythmias requires knowledge of a variety of classes of medications with specific applications and adverse effects.  This review contains 3 figures, 9 tables and 54 references Keywords: amiodarone, antiarrhythmic, beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, catecholamine, inotrope, nitrate, vasoconstrictor, vasodilator