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      Drugs & Diseases > Pediatrics: Cardiac Disease and Critical Care Medicine

      Shock in Pediatrics Medication

      Updated: Jul 12, 2019
      • Author: Eric A Pasman, MD; Chief Editor: Dale W Steele, MD, MS  more...
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      Medication

      Medication Summary

      A variety of therapeutic treatments may be required for pediatric patients in shock. Possible therapies may include the following:

      • Inotropic medications

      • Dextrose

      • Electrolytes and calcium stabilization

      • Prostaglandin E1

      • Corticosteroids

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      Inotropic agents

      Class Summary

      Inotropic agents increase myocardial contractility and have variable effects on peripheral vascular resistance. First-line inotropic agents in pediatric shock include dopamine and epinephrine. On the basis of cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR), other vasoactive agents indicated in the treatment of shock may include vasoconstrictors (eg, norepinephrine, phenylephrine) or vasodilators (eg, dobutamine, milrinone). [57, 58] Which agents are indicated and which are effective in patients with any given etiology of shock depends on the end-diastolic volume and contractile state of the patient's cardiovascular system.

      Dopamine

      Dopamine is used for refractory hypotension following adequate volume resuscitation. It stimulates beta1- and alpha1-adrenergic and dopaminergic receptors in a dose-dependent fashion. In low doses, dopamine acts on dopaminergic receptors in renal and splanchnic vascular beds, causing vasodilatation in these beds. In midrange doses, it acts on beta-adrenergic receptors to increase heart rate and contractility, improve cardiac output, and enhance conduction (increasing sinoatrial rate) in the heart. In high doses, it acts on alpha-adrenergic receptors to increase systemic vascular resistance and raise blood pressure.

      Dobutamine

      Sympathomimetic agent with primarily beta1-agonist effects, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Some weak beta2-mediated peripheral vasodilation. Little effect on alpha receptors. May precipitate ventricular dysrhythmias, although potentially less likely to do so than epinephrine.

      Epinephrine (Adrenalin)

      Epinephrine is used for hypotension refractory to dopamine. Its alpha-agonist effects include increased peripheral vascular resistance, reversed peripheral vasodilatation, systemic hypotension, and vascular permeability. Its beta2-agonist effects include bronchodilation, chronotropic cardiac activity, and positive inotropic effects.

      Norepinephrine (Levophed)

      Norepinephrine is used for protracted hypotension following adequate fluid-volume replacement. This agent stimulates beta1- and alpha-adrenergic receptors, thereby increasing cardiac muscle contractility and heart rate, as well as vasoconstriction.

      Phenylephrine

      Strong alpha-receptor stimulant with little beta-adrenergic activity that produces vasoconstriction of arterioles in the body, helping increase systemic vascular resistance.

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      Phosphodiesterase Enzyme Inhibitor

      Class Summary

      Milrinone is the primary phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor used in pediatrics, and it works via a different mechanism than that of the catecholamines. Milrinone inhibits PDE III, producing an increase in intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which raises intracellular calcium levels and thereby improving cardiac inotropy and peripheral vasodilation.

      Milrinone may be used together with catecholamines to further increase myocardial contractility while reducing systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and afterload. It can be useful in improving perfusion in patients who remain in compensated shock with poor peripheral perfusion but a normal central blood pressure and adequate intravascular volume. Milrinone is also often a useful adjunct in patients who have low cardiac output syndrome following congenital heart corrective surgeries. [59]

      Adverse effects of milrinone may include arrhythmias and thrombocytopenia. [60, 61] Care must be taken when choosing to start phosphodiesterase inhibitors because of their vasodilator effects and their long half-life.

      Milrinone

      Milrinone is a selective PDE III inhibitor that acts as a positive inotrope and vasodilator with little chronotropic activity.

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      Prostaglandins, Endocrine

      Class Summary

      Neonates who present with shock associated with a large liver, enlarged cardiac silhouette, or heart murmur may have obstructive shock that develops because of closing of the ductus arteriosus. Prior to closure, the ductus arteriosus allows sufficient systemic blood flow to bypass the obstructive lesion. In patients in whom the ductus arteriosus has closed, initiation of prostaglandin E1 to maintain or reestablish its patency may be lifesaving. Adverse effects may include fever, apnea, or hypotension due to vasodilation. Evaluation of cardiac anatomy with echocardiography, performed by a pediatric cardiologist, should be obtained as soon as possible.

      Alprostadil IV (Prostin VR)

      Alprostadil is a synthetic prostaglandin E1 and induces vascular smooth muscle and ductus arteriosus vasodilation. This agent is beneficial in infants with congenital defects that restrict pulmonary or systemic blood flow and in patients who depend on a patent ductus arteriosus for adequate oxygenation and perfusion.

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      Corticosteroid

      Class Summary

      The use of corticosteroids in shock is controversial. However, it is possible that patients in severe septic shock have inadequate levels of circulating glucocorticoids and may benefit from stress dosing of steroids.

      Hydrocortisone (Solu-Cortef, Cortef)

      Hydrocortisone is a glucocorticoid with complex and varied metabolic effects when given systemically. It is the corticosteroid of choice in vasopressor-refractory shock because of its mineralocorticoid activity and glucocorticoid effects.

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