NURS 3550H Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Ventricular Tachycardia, Pulseless Electrical Activity, Ventricular Fibrillation
31 Oct 2018
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Document Summary
It can cause alpha1-mediated vasoconstriction and is used to delay absorption of local anesthetics, control superficial bleeding elevate blood pressure. It can activate beta1 receptors, epinephrine and may be used to. Overcome av heart block and restore cardiac function in patients in cardiac arrest experiencing ventricular fibrillation, pulseless ventricular tachycardia, pulseless electrical activity, or asystole. Activation of beta2 receptors in the lung promotes bronchodilation for asthma. It can activate a combination of alpha and beta receptors so epinephrine is the treatment of choice for anaphylactic shock. Epinephrine may be administered topically or by injection. Following subq injection, absorption is slow owing to vasoconstriction. Absorption is more rapid following im injection and is immediate with iv administration. Epinephrine has a short half-life because of two processes: enzymatic inactivation and uptake into adrenergic nerves. The enzymes that inactivate epinephrine and other catecholamines are mao and comt. Vasoconstriction secondary to excessive alpha1 activation can produce a dramatic increase in blood pressure.
