[Postoperative cardiac insufficiency. The value of enoximone]

The authors discuss the physiopathological mechanisms of intra and postoperative cardiac failure and the different means of treatment. A distinction is made between the intra and postoperative periods: the factors which predispose to cardiac failure are different and the immediate postoperative period would seem to be the most dangerous in patients with reduced coronary or contractile reserves. Enoximone is a valuable and effective inotropic agent in this situation.