Vasoactive Drug Pharmacology Flashcards
7 cards from real CCP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Vasoactive Drug Pharmacology flashcards as text
Which vasoactive drug is the first-line agent recommended by AHA/ACC for vasoplegic syndrome following cardiac surgery?
Answer: Vasopressin
Vasopressin is recommended as a first-line agent for vasoplegic syndrome because it restores vascular tone via V1 receptors in patients refractory to catecholamines.
The alpha-to-beta receptor activity ratio of epinephrine shifts at higher doses to primarily:
Answer: Increase alpha-1 activity causing vasoconstriction
At high doses, epinephrine's alpha-1 agonist activity predominates, overriding beta-2 vasodilation and causing significant systemic vasoconstriction.
Nitroglycerin's preferential vasodilation of venous capacitance vessels over arterioles makes it most useful for treating:
Answer: Acute pulmonary edema with elevated preload
By dilating venous capacitance vessels, nitroglycerin reduces preload and ventricular filling pressures, making it ideal for acute pulmonary edema.
A patient on CPB receives phenylephrine to treat hypotension. The expected hemodynamic response includes:
Answer: Increased SVR with reflex bradycardia
Phenylephrine is a pure alpha-1 agonist that increases SVR; the resulting rise in blood pressure triggers a baroreceptor-mediated reflex bradycardia.
Which of the following best describes tachyphylaxis as it relates to continuous nitroglycerin infusion?
Answer: Progressive loss of hemodynamic response over 24–48 hours
Continuous nitroglycerin infusion leads to tachyphylaxis—diminished vasodilatory response—within 24–48 hours due to depletion of sulfhydryl groups needed for nitric oxide generation.
During CPB, isoproterenol is occasionally used to treat which specific condition?
Answer: Sinus bradycardia or heart block requiring chronotropy
Isoproterenol, a non-selective beta agonist, is used for chronotropy in bradycardia or heart block when temporary pacing is unavailable or insufficient.
Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is used perioperatively primarily to reduce:
Answer: Pulmonary vascular resistance
Inhaled NO selectively dilates the pulmonary vasculature by activating soluble guanylate cyclase in pulmonary smooth muscle, reducing PVR without causing systemic hypotension.