Treatment of Shock Following Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Almost every drug used in the treatment of myocardial infarction accompanied by shock can have serious adverse effects. Inadequate myocardial contractility apparently is at least partly responsible for the hypotension. Accordingly, sympathomimetic amines having direct myocardial actions (norepinephrine, mephentermine, metaraminol) appear to be more suitable than amines having little or no myocardial effect (methoxamine, phenylephrine). However, therapy must be tailored to individual needs; the amines are not interchangeable.