Hemodynamic Evaluation of Glucagon in Symptomatic Heart Disease

Abstract

Glucagon was administered as a 5 mg intravenous bolus in 26 patients. Studies were performed in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and soon after cardiac surgery. When the response to glucagon was compared on the basis of functional classification, patients with class I and II heart disease had a significantly greater increase in cardiac output (+700 ml) than patients with class III and IV heart disease (+100 ml). Isoproterenol augmented cardiac output by a significantly greater amount (+2500 ml) than glucagon in eight of these patients. It is concluded that glucagon is a less effective inotropic agent than isoproterenol and that glucagon's usefulness is limited in patients with advanced symptomatic heart disease.