Inotropic Therapies in Asphyxiated Neonates: The Clinical and Laboratory Facts

Asphyxiated neonates often have hypotension, shock and poor tissue perfusion. Various inotropic medications are commonly used to provide the cardiovascular support to improve the blood pressure and to treat shock. However, there is a paucity of literature on the systemic and regional hemodynamic effects of these inotropic medications in asphyxiated neonates, necessitating cautious translation of findings from other clinical populations and animal studies. This review discusses the current available information, from both clinical studies and animal models of neonatal asphyxia, on commonly used mediations including dopamine, dobutamine, epinephrine, milrinone, levosimendan and hydrocortisone.