[The value of dobutamine in cardiology]

Abstract

The hemodynamic effects of dobutamine have been evaluated by catheterization for a limited duration in 17 patients. The cardiac index, the systolic index, the myocardial contractility given by the values dp/dt and Vmax, and the systolic work index have increased significantly while the increase in the mean aortic pressure and the cardiac rate were small. The left ventricular telediastolic pressure, and systemic and pulmonary arterial resistance diminished significantly. These results seen to authorise the prolonged use of this drug in the low output syndromes with left ventricular failure whether the cause be ischemic or due to a cardiomyopathy. Nine patients were then treated, with a dosage of 8 microgram/kg/min. The supervision of the treatment was composed of iterative readings of the arterial pressure, the cardiac rate, pulmonary capillary and arterial pressures, and the cardiac index. The hemodynamic results were similar to those obtained in the 17 patients. It seems that this product can be used in the acute stage of myocardial infarction. Indeed its action on the myocardial excitability is small and the moderate increase in the oxygen consumption can be compensated for by the improvement in the myocardial vascularisation.