Cardiovascular pharmacology in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Abstract

The word "drug" originated from a French word "drogue," which also came from "droge-vate" from Middle Dutch meaning "dry barrels" (Harper, Douglas. "drug". Online Etymology Dictionary). This concept is referring to the preservation of pharmaceutical plants in barrels. As Claude Bernard quoted in 1865, "everything is poisonous, nothing is poisonous, and it is all a matter of dose" (Bernard, Claude. An introduction to the study of experimental study; 1865). Therefore in this chapter, we are reviewing some clinical pharmacological titles including inotropes, vasoactive agents, diuretics, antihypertensive agents, anti-arrhythmic agents, anesthetic drugs, agents affecting autonomic nervous systems, anticoagulation and thrombolysis drugs, blood products, and antibiotics. In this chapter, we emphasize on main clinical consideration and dosage in addition to indications and contraindications, in other words when will the drug be poisonous as quoted above. The aim of this chapter is to have a practical, clinical, and logical approach in pharmaceutical management of patients with heart disease.