The Use of Cardiotonic Drugs in Neonates

Clin Perinatol. 2019 Jun;46(2):273-290. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2019.02.010. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Abstract

There is a distinct lack of age-appropriate cardiotonic drugs, and adult derived formulations continue to be administered, without evidence-based knowledge on their dosing, safety, efficacy, and long-term effects. Dopamine remains the most commonly studied and prescribed cardiotonic drug in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), but evidence of its effect on endorgan perfusion still remains. Unlike adult and pediatric critical care, there are significant gaps in our knowledge on the use of various cardiotonic drugs in various forms of circulatory failure in the NICU.

Keywords: Inodilator; Inotrope; Low blood pressure; Newborn; Shock; Vasopressor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Asphyxia Neonatorum / complications
  • Cardiotonic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dobutamine / therapeutic use
  • Dopamine / therapeutic use
  • Heart Defects, Congenital / complications
  • Humans
  • Hypotension / drug therapy*
  • Hypotension / etiology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
  • Milrinone / therapeutic use
  • Neonatal Sepsis / complications
  • Norepinephrine / therapeutic use
  • Persistent Fetal Circulation Syndrome / complications
  • Shock / drug therapy*
  • Shock / etiology
  • Simendan / therapeutic use
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Vasopressins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Cardiotonic Agents
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Vasopressins
  • Simendan
  • Dobutamine
  • Milrinone
  • Dopamine
  • Norepinephrine