Vasodilator Therapy of Cardiac Failure

Abstract

(Second of Two Parts)*Acute Myocardial InfarctionVasodilator therapy has been advocated for two purposes in patients with acute myocardial infarction: improvement in pump function; and reduction in myocardial ischemia.Pump FunctionLeft ventricular dysfunction in acute myocardial infarction is characterized by a high left ventricular diastolic pressure and a low stroke volume.³² Since the left ventricle usually is not much dilated despite the high filling pressure some of the rise in pressure has been attributed to a reduction in diastolic compliance.³³ Clinical signs of left ventricular failure often coexist with the hemodynamic derangement, but sometimes the lungs are clear . . .