[Continuous beta-block with esmolol in combination with enoximone: influence on cardiac function in high risk...

The aim of this study was to assess cardiac function in vascular surgery patients with known coronary artery disease (CAD) who received continuous perioperative beta blocker therapy with esmolol alone versus esmolol in combination with the phosphodiesterase (PDE) III inhibitor enoximone.

Over a period of 24 h, 28 patients were assigned to receive heart rate (HR) control by continuous infusion of esmolol in combination with the PDE III inhibitor enoximone (Esmolol+Enoximone group) or esmolol alone (Esmolol group; n=14). Cardiac function was assessed by the use of a pulmonary artery catheter and serial measurements of plasma troponin T (TnT) und B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP).

The heart rate significantly decreased to the target rate of 50-60 min(-1) in both groups over the observation period. Cardiac index increased significantly only in Esmolol+Enoximone-treated patients (from 2.4+/-0.2 lxmin(-1)xm(-2) to 3.1+/-0.1 lxmin(-1)xm(-2)) and was significantly higher than in the esmolol alone group (from 2.5+/-0.2 lxmin(-1)xm(-2) to 2.4+/-0.1 lxmin(-1)xm(-2)). No patient had detectable levels of cTnT perioperatively. Peak plasma BNP concentrations were significantly increased in both groups but the highest values were measured in the esmolol alone group.

Inotropic therapy with the PDE III inhibitor enoximone improves cardiac function in high risk patients with known CAD undergoing vascular surgery and also when receiving systematic heart rate control by continuous infusion of esmolol.