Effects of amrinone on left and right ventricular function in patients with impaired myocardial performance during...

We have studied the effects of amrinone on left and right ventricular haemodynamics in patients with impaired ventricular performance caused by coronary artery disease. Anaesthesia was achieved with fentanyl, flunitrazepam and pancuronium. After reaching steady state, a bolus dose of amrinone 0.5 mg kg-1 was administered followed by an infusion of 1 mg kg-1 h-1. Right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and other haemodynamic variables were evaluated at six times: before, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 min after bolus administration of amrinone. Amrinone led to a 23% increase in cardiac index resulting mainly from reduction in afterload. While central venous pressure and mean pulmonary artery pressure remained unchanged, RVEF increased by 28%. This effect may be interpreted as an improvement in right ventricular performance.