COMPARISON OF THE HEMODYNAMIC-EFFECTS OF ENOXIMONE AND PIROXIMONE IN PATIENTS AFTER CARDIAC-SURGERY

We have compared the haemodynamic effects of the imidazole derivative phosphodiesterase inhibitors enoximone and piroximone in patients with low cardiac output after cardiac surgery. Ten patients (group E) rece ived enoximone and 10 patients (group P) received piroximone, both at a loading dose of 0.5 mg kg-1 followed by an infusion of 5 mug kg-1 mi n-1. In both groups the main changes with time were increases in cardi ac index (maximum 24.5% in group E, 25.8% in group P) and decreases in systemic vascular resistance (maximum 26.8% in group E and 24.8% in g roup P). There were moderate increases in heart rate (maximum 11.3% in group E and 13% in group P) but a greater percentage decrease in mean arterial pressure in group E (maximum 11.9% vs 7.9%) with time. One p atient in group E developed hypertension during the loading dose. Two patients in group E and two in group P developed hypotension during th e loading dose. One patient in group E developed ventricular extrasyst oles which may have been related to the drug being studied.