How do you handle patients who require emergency vasopressor therapy?

Sample interview questions: How do you handle patients who require emergency vasopressor therapy?

Sample answer:

1. Rapid Assessment and Triage:
2. Quickly assess the patient’s airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs).
3. Prioritize treatment based on the patient’s clinical presentation and hemodynamic status.

4. Initiate immediate resuscitative measures if indicated, such as chest compressions, defibrillation, or airway management.

5. Establish IV Access:

6. Secure large-bore intravenous (IV) access to facilitate rapid administration of fluids and medications.

7. Consider using a central line if prolonged vasopressor therapy is anticipated.

8. Monitor Vital Signs and Neurologic Status:

9. Continuously monitor the patient’s vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and temperature.

10. Closely monitor the patient’s neurologic status, including level of consciousness, pupillary response, and motor function.

11. Administer Fluids:

12. Administer intravenous fluids cautiously, aiming for euvolemia.

13. Monitor the patient’s fluid balance and avoid fluid overload, especially in patients with heart failure or renal dysfunction.

14. Initiate Vasopressor Therapy:

15. Start vasopressor therapy as per the hospital protocol or under the guidance of a critical care physician.
16. Titrate the vasopressor dose to achieve the desired hemodynamic goals, such as maintaining mean arterial pressure (MAP) above 65 mmHg.

17. Commonly used vasopressors in the emergency department include norepinephrine, dopamine, vasopressin, and phenylephrine.

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