Haemodynamic effects and comparison of enoximone, dobutamine and dopamine following mitral valve surgery.

Mitral valve surgery may be complicated by a post-operative low output state requiring inotropic support, and a wide variety of factors may influence the choice of agents used to treat this condition. The authors have examined and compared the haemodynamic effects of the highly specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor enoximone, and the adrenergic agents dobutamine and dopamine in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Enoximone, 0.5 mg kg-1 bolus, followed by a continuous infusion of 5 micrograms kg-1 min-1, was compared against dobutamine, 7 micrograms kg-1 min-1, and dopamine, 5 micrograms kg-1 min-1, with the protocol allowing for an increase in the infusion rate by a factor of two if clinical and haemodynamic measurements indicated. All 25 patients receiving enoximone were successfully weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass at the first attempt, with significant increases in cardiac index and stroke index, combined with little or no change in heart rate or pulmonary artery pressures and a highly significant reduction in systemic vascular resistance, and a reduction in mean arterial pressure. Three of the 25 patients receiving dobutamine were withdrawn from the study because of inadequate haemodynamic response, while the remaining 22 patients demonstrated significant increases in heart rate, cardiac index and stroke index, with a reduction in systemic vascular resistance. Nine of the 25 patients receiving dopamine failed to respond adequately, while the remaining 16 demonstrated an increase in heart rate and cardiac index but with little change in stroke index and a modest reduction in systemic vascular resistance. Enoximone has been shown to be a highly effective first-line inotrope in patients following mitral valve surgery with significant advantages over dobutamine and dopamine.

Blood/gas solubility coefficient and blood concentration of enflurane during normothermic and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass.

The blood/gas solubility coefficient and blood concentration of enflurane were measured at intervals in 10 patients undergoing coronary artery revascularization with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and moderate hypothermia. A constant end-tidal concentration of enflurane was maintained throughout the study. Blood/gas solubility coefficient was determined at 37 degrees C, which when combined with an initial single-step equilibration of the blood sample with air, permitted the accurate measurement of blood concentration. Blood/gas solubility coefficient and blood concentration both decreased significantly with the onset of CPB. During the period of hypothermia, blood/gas solubility as measured at 37 degrees C showed little change; however, there was a progressive, marked increase in blood concentration with a mean increase of 80% prior to rewarming. Therefore, the level of anesthesia provided by enflurane may lighten with the onset of CPB, and a deeper level will accompany any decrease in blood temperature. On rewarming, blood concentration levels rapidly returned to levels similar to those measured before cooling. The increased uptake and accumulation of volatile anesthetic agent that occurred as a result of the period of hypothermic CPB was rapidly cleared. The rapidity with which blood concentration responded to the changes occurring during CPB make it unlikely that there was any significant increase in myocardial depression in response to the raised blood concentration secondary to the hypothermia.

Use of enoximone in weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass following mitral valve surgery.

Mitral valve surgery is often complicated by a postoperative low cardiac output state. In addition, some patients may have pre-existing pulmonary hypertension. Conventional inotropes, such as dopamine and dobutamine, tend to increase pulmonary vascular resistance. However, enoximone has both inotropic and vasodilatory properties. Ten patients, who had undergone mitral valve surgery and in whom weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass was unsuccessful without inotropic support, were treated with enoximone, 1 mg/kg loading dose plus 10 micrograms/kg/min continuous infusion, to assist in weaning from bypass. A significant and sustained increase in cardiac index was achieved without an increase in heart rate. At the same time, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular and pulmonary vascular resistances were significantly decreased.