Question 1

will epinephrine increase cardiac output?

Accepted Answer

Yes: It makes the heart contract more forcefully and makes it beat faster. Both effects will increase the cardiac output.

Question 2

how effective is epinephrine for treating cardiac arrest?

Accepted Answer

Epinephrine: Epinephrine remains a component of the ACLS training by American Heart Association. Measuring 'how' effective it is, is difficult. It is generally considered one of the few drugs that helps in cardiac arrest from 'experience'. A controlled study isn't available. Cardiac Arrest has a very high mortality, we continue to consider epi effective while most other drugs have fallen off the chart.

Question 3

why might epinephrine cause cardiac standstill in a patient on non-selective beta blockers?

Accepted Answer

Theory: If you assume epi is alpha-beta stimulator and nonselective beta blocker blocks both types of beta, then pure alpha stimulation without beta stimulation to support it could theoretically cause the heart to crash. Not sure there is clinical evidence to support this however.

Question 4

is one of the acls protocols to administer epinephrine after cardiac arrest?

Accepted Answer

Yes: If asystole is present, acls recommends a trial of epinephrine. Asystole refers to an arrest where there is no electrical activity in the heart that can be detected.

Question 5

what happens if someone with low blood flow due to coronary arteries receives epinephrine due to anaphylaxis?

Accepted Answer

Risk/benefit: Anaphylaxis is a condition which may lead to instant death and thus coronary narrowing is not the primary consideration in the treatment decision. Aside from that, with anaphylaxis, blood flow to the coronary will likely decrease as well if not treated.

Question 6

how do beta-clockers increase cardiac output?

Accepted Answer

They don't: Beta blockers do not increase cardiac output.  If anything, they reduce cardiac output by reducing heart rate and the strength of contraction (contractility).

Question 7

can you tell me if cardiac output increases / decreases?

Accepted Answer

Both: In a normal person, cardiac output increase with exertion then returns to a normal or resting level.  With a malfunctioning heart, cardiac output is frequently considered low or subnormal.

Question 8

if cardiac output of 4 l/min is exercised maximally, and cardiac output increases to 8 l/min. what is the cardiac reserve?

Accepted Answer

Cardiac reserve: It is the difference between resting and maximum cardiac output, so 4 L/min

Question 9

will acetylcholine raise cardiac output?

Accepted Answer

Not expected to: Acetylcholine (parasympathetic nervous system) should have the opposite effect from Epinephrine (sympathetic nervous system) and therefore should slow the heart rate and decrease the force of contraction of the heart. Both effects would tend to lower the cardiac output (stroke volume times the heart rate). The stroke volume is the amount of blood ejected with each heart beat.

Question 10

how does the heart increase cardiac output?

Accepted Answer

Two ways: Either by pumping out more blood with each beat (by squeezing harder) or by beating faster. The output is the heart rate times the stroke volume. (the amount of blood pumped out with each beat).

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Will epinephrine increase cardiac output

A member asked:

Will epinephrine increase cardiac output?

A member asked:

How effective is epinephrine for treating cardiac arrest?

A member asked:

Why might epinephrine cause cardiac standstill in a patient on non-selective beta blockers?

A member asked:

Is one of the acls protocols to administer epinephrine after cardiac arrest?

A member asked:

What happens if someone with low blood flow due to coronary arteries receives epinephrine due to anaphylaxis?

A member asked:

How do beta-clockers increase cardiac output?

A member asked:

Can you tell me if cardiac output increases / decreases?

A member asked:

If cardiac output of 4 l/min is exercised maximally, and cardiac output increases to 8 l/min. what is the cardiac reserve?

A member asked:

Will acetylcholine raise cardiac output?

A member asked:

How does the heart increase cardiac output?

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