[Cardiac resuscitation using glucose-insulin--a case report]

A report is given on a 52-year-old female patient who showed catecholamine-refractory cardiac failure after double valve replacement. Maximum dosages of dopamine, dobutamine and epinephrine could not effect a sufficient left ventricular function. As "ultima ratio", the application of 1 g/kg b.w./min glucose and 1.5 IU/kg b.w./min insulin reversed the apparently hopeless situation. The decisive advantage of cardiac nutrition using glucose and insulin lies in an anabolic action with resynthesis of high energetic phosphates for improving the inotropic capacity of the heart.