Dobutamine
Pharmacology of dobutamine, a synthetic catecholamine used as an inotrope as it is a direct-acting moderately selective β1 adrenergic agonist
Dopamine
Dopamine: naturally occurring catecholamine; dopamine and adrenoreceptor agonist; immediate precursor to noradrenaline
Epidural Complications
Epidural Complications: Catheter related; or drug related
Flumazenil
Flumazenil: benzodiazepine antagonist; competitive antagonist that act on the benzodiazepine receptor
Frusemide
Frusemide: loop diuretic, known as furosemide in North America
GI Drug Absorption in Critical Illness
GI Drug Absorption in Critical Illness; multi-factorial determinants influence the bioavailability of drugs; governed by factors altering transport of substances across cell membranes (diffusion, active transport, ultrafiltration)
Gentamicin
Gentamicin; aminoglycoside; irreversible binding to bacterial ribosomal proteins -> inhibits protein synthesis; Antimicrobial cover: gram negative rods (including Pseudomonas)
Heparin
Heparin: anticoagulant; unfractionated heparin (UFH) is a sulfated polysaccharide with a molecular weight range of 3 to 30 kDa
Hypertonic Saline
Hypertonic Saline: concentrated Sodium chloride with elevation of the serum Na+
Imipenem
carbapenem (imipenem + cilastatin); inhibition of bacterial cell wall synthesis; cilastatin reduces renal metabolism -> increases effective concentration and decreases nephrotoxicity
Ketamine
Ketamine: phencyclidine derivative hypnotic and analgesic. NMDA receptor antagonist resulting in dissociative anaesthesia (profound analgesia with superficial sleep); interacts with opioid receptors - mu, delta and kappa
Levosimendan vs Dobutamine
COMPARISON EVIDENCE Mebazza, (2007) SURVIVE – Levosimendan vs Dobutamine in patients with acute decompensated heart failure, JAMA References and Links