hemodynamics

Nicardipine (Cardene) is a short acting, dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) I frequently use in the perioperative and ICU settings for tight blood pressure control through afterload reduction primarily at the arteriolar level. Although...

Milrinone (Primacor) is a phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) enzyme inhibitor I routinely use as an inodilator. That is, a drug which enhances cardiac contractility (inotropy) while decreasing vascular resistance (vasodilation). PDE3 degrades cyclic AMP (cAMP), so through...

Although the use of pulmonary artery catheters (PACs, otherwise known as Swan-Ganz catheters) has never been shown to confer a mortality benefit, they are still routinely used in operating rooms and intensive care units...

Vasopressin, otherwise known as antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is a peptide hormone synthesized in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland. Its physiologic effects include vascular smooth muscle constriction (via V1 receptors, PLC-IP3...