COMPARISON OF ADRENERGIC AGONISTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF VENTRICULAR-FIBRILLATION AND PULSELESS ELECTRICAL-ACTIVITY

The primary role of epinephrine for the treatment of ventricular fibri llation (VF) and pulseless electrical activity (PEA) is to increase bl ood flow to the myocardium and central nervous system and ultimately i mprove survival. However, despite the administration of epinephrine, s urvival following VF or PEA is low. In an attempt to improve outcome f rom VF and PEA, alternative adrenergic agonists (methoxamine, phenylep hrine, norepinephrine) which have different pharmacological properties than epinephrine have been evaluated. In order to determine the role of alternative adrenergic agonists for the treatment of VF and PEA thi s paper will compare the pharmacological properties and pharmacodynami c effects of these drugs to epinephrine. Specifically, receptor physio logy along with the effects of adrenergic agonists on coronary perfusi on pressure, survival, myocardial oxygen demand, and cerebral blood fl ow will be discussed.