Dr. Paul Langlois – Cardiac Medication Essentials: 2016 Critical Care Nursing Conference

Outline

Cardiac Hemodynamics: Beyond Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

• Preload
• Afterload
• Contractility
• Normal and abnormal electrocardiographic tracings

Antiarrhythmic Agents: Avoid the 3 Most Common Mistakes

• Class I agents (sodium channel blockers)
• Class II agents (beta-blockers)
• Class III agents (potassium channel blockers)
• Class IV agents (calcium channel blockers)
• AHA/ACC Anticoagulant Administration Guidelines
• Nitrates
• Aspirin
• Morphine sulfate
• Beta blockers
• Fibrinolytic agents
• Antiplatelet agents
• Anticoagulants
• ACE inhibitors
• Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB)

Stroke Patients: Avoid 4 Common Medication Errors

• Ischemic
• Hypertension: Labetalol, Nitropaste, Nicardipine
• Hypotension: Crystalloid, Dopamine
• Thrombolytic agents
• Antiepileptic medications
• Dabigatran
• Hemorrhagic
• Correct coagulation abnormalities
• Glucose management
• Blood pressure control
• Antiepileptic medications

Metabolic Syndrome and Dyslipidemia Patients: Medications that Should NOT Be Administered Together

• NCEP ATPIII guidelines
• Lipid modifying medications
• Statins
• Fibrates
• Resins
• Niacin
• Blood glucose control
• Insulin
• Oral agents

Congestive Heart Failure: Medications to Start and Avoid Based Upon Patient Presentation Digoxin

• Nesiritide
• Diuretics
• ACE inhibitors
• ARB
• Aldosterone antagonists
• Beta-blockers

WARNING: What the Antihypertensive Therapy Guidelines Do Not Specify

• Diuretics
• Loop
• Thiazide
• Potassium-sparing
• ACE inhibitors
• ARB
• Beta-blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Alpha blocking agents
• Vasodilators
• Lifestyle modifications