Ephedrine in the initial treatment of haemorrhagic shock.
The initial treatment for hypotension due to blood loss is intravenous fluids. Occasionally there is need for additional medication, as well as stopping the source of the bleeding. The literature in the main discusses the use of dopamine. Ephedrine has not been reviewed as useful in such situations. This article discusses the immediate use of ephedrine in the treatment of shock due to bleeding; its special quality is as a catecholamine whose venoconstrictor component is stronger than its arterioconstrictor component. Thus, its effect of increasing venous return is more significant than arterial vasoconstriction.
Eldor
J
J
Department of Anaesthesiology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000188:drug therapy; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects
D002395:Catecholamines; D004809:Ephedrine