Combination high dose amrinone and dopamine in the management of moribund cardiogenic shock after open heart surgery

Abstract

Two patients who suffered severe cardiogenic shock after open-heart surgery were successfully resuscitated with high doses of amrinone and dopamine. Both patients had required cardiopulmonary resuscitation and neither was responsive to more conventional mechanical and pharmacologic intervention. Neither patient suffered any serious side effects and both were eventually discharged from the hospital in good condition. These two case reports suggest the potential for using higher than previously reported doses of amrinone in combination with dopamine for the successful treatment of moribund cardiogenic shock in the post open-heart surgical patient. Further studies are needed to assess whether this high-dose drug combination will be successful in patients who present with severe cardiogenic shock unrelated to the post open-heart surgical setting.