[Effects of nitroglycerin on myocardial contraction in patients with ischemic heart disease]

The effects of nitroglycerin on central hemodynamics and direct myocardial contractility were directly studied in 32 patients with functional class III-IV heart failure during aortocoronary bypass surgery. When nitroglycerin was used, hemodynamic parameters changed in two stages: 1) systemic blood pressure initially slightly increased; 2) decreases in this and other central hemodynamic parameters occurred. The dynamics of myocardial function was determined by its baseline state, dyskinetic intensity, i.e. its contractility. In patients with preserved myocardial function, nitroglycerin failed to cause its substantial dysfunction. At the same time its contractility and central hemodynamic parameters might considerably deteriorate in patients with moderate dyskinesia and furthermore with severe myocardial dysfunction.