DIGITALIS IN OPEN HEART OPERATIONS

Abstract

There are a group of patients, not having heart failure, who would benefit from digitalis in connection with open operations on the heart. This group includes all adults, all with tetralogy of Fallot, and all with high pressure ventricular septal defects. If during the immediate postoperative period supra-ventricular arrhythmia occurs, particularly tachycardia, the ouabain test is extremely useful and safe in determining whether or not more digitalis is needed.