Hemodynamic effects of nitroprusside infusion during coronary artery operation in man.

The hemodynamic response to vasodilator therapy with sodium nitroprusside has been assessed in 33 patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD) during coronary artery operation. The patients were divided into three groups; Group 1 included seven patients with CAD and normal left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP less than 12 mm Hg); Group 2 included 18 patients with CAD and chronic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (LVFP greater than 12 mm Hg) and Group 3 included eight patients with CAD and acute LV dysfunction (LVFP greater than 12 mm Hg) associated with an intraoperative hypertensive episode. Nitroprusside was administered intraoperatively at an initial infusion rate of 10-15 mcg/min and the rate was gradually increased thereafter until the criteria for effective therapy were satisfied. The effective dose ranged from 10-120 mcg/min with an average of 52 +/- 4 (SEM) mcg/min. In all three groups, pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure, right and left ventricular filling pressure, and pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance decreased significantly with nitroprusside infusion. Heart rate increased significantly in Group 1 and remained unchanged in Group 2 and 3. Heart rate X systolic arterial pressure decreased significantly in Group 1 and 3 and did not change in Group 2. Stroke index increased significantly in both groups of patients with elevated control LVFP (Group 2 and 3) and remained unchanged in patients with normal left ventricular function (Group 1). Left ventricular stroke work index decreased in Group 1, increased in Group 2, and remained unchanged in Group 3. Right ventricular stroke work index decreased significantly in all groups. These findings suggest that judicious intraoperative administration of sodium nitroprusside improves left ventricular function in patients with acute or chronic elevation of LVFP and LV dysfunction associated with severe CAD. Furthermore, nitroprusside is an effective drug for control of intraoperative hypertensive episodes in such patients.