A. Petry et al., EFFECTS OF ENOXIMONE ON RIGHT-VENTRICULAR FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH IMPAIRED MYOCARDIAL PERFORMANCE, The thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon, 44(4), 1996, pp. 173-177
The effects of an enoximone monotherapy on left-ventricular and especi
ally on right-ventricular haemodynamics were investigated in fourteen
patients with impaired left-ventricular function secondary to coronary
artery disease. Anaesthesia was induced and maintained with fentanyl
and flunitrazepam. After reaching steady state, a bolus of 0.5 mg/kg e
noximone was administered, followed by an infusion of 0.5 mu g/kg/min.
Besides the common haemodynamic parameters particulary the right-vent
ricular ejection fraction (RVEF) was measured using a special thermodi
lution technique. The predefined time points were: before administrati
on of enoximone (baseline) and 5 min, 10 min, 15 min, 20 min, and 30 m
in after bolus injection of enoximone. Compared to the baseline the ma
ximum effects of enoximone were a 28% increase of cardiac index accomp
anied by a 39% decline of systemic vascular resistance and an unchange
d left-ventricular stroke-work index. While central venous pressure an
d mean pulmonary artery pressure remained unchanged, RVEF (+20%) and r
ight-ventricular stroke-work index (+30%) were significantly augmented
, indicating improved right-ventricular performance. No adverse effect
s of the enoximone administration were observed perioperatively. We co
nclude that an enoximone monotherapy is beneficial for patients with i
mpaired myocardial function undergoing cardiac surgery.