Afterload reduction with phentolamine in patients with acute pulmonary edema

Phentolamine in amounts of 10 to 40 microgram/kg/min was infused intravenously for the emergency treatment of acute pulmonary edema due to left ventricular failure. Fourteen patients with arteriosclerotic heart disease, ranging in age from 52 to 87 years, had clinical and roentgenographic signs of pulmonary edema. The pulmonary artery wedge pressure was increased to an average of 24 mm Hg and the cardiac index was decreased to 1.9 liters/min/m2 or less prior to the administration of phentolamine. A reduction in the pulmonary artery wedge pressure to 14 mm Hg and an increase in the cardiac index to 2.5 liters/min/m2 was observed in response to this alpha adrenergic blocking agent. Reduction in peripheral resistance with phentolamine was associated with reversal of pulmonary edema.