Influence of continuous perioperative beta-blockade in combination with phosphodiesterase inhibition on haemodynamics and myocardial ischaemia in high-risk vascular surgery patients.

BACKGROUND We sought to assess the intra- and postoperative haemodynamic effects of continuous perioperative beta-adrenergic blockade combined with phosphodiesterase (PDE) III inhibition and its potential benefits in limiting perioperative myocardial ischaemia in high-risk vascular surgery patients. METHODS Seventy-five patients were randomly assigned to receive tight heart rate (HR) control by a continuous infusion of: esmolol in combination with the PDE III inhibitor enoximone (esmolol+enoximone group), esmolol infusion alone (esmolol group), or standard therapy (control group) for a period of 48 h. Myocardial ischaemia and dysfunction were detected by serial plasma Troponin T (TnT) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurements. RESULTS Cardiac index (CI) increased significantly only in esmolol+enoximone-treated patients [CI: from 2.4 (0.2) litre min(-1) m(-2) at baseline to 3.2 (0.2) litre min(-1) m(-2) at 24 h after surgery; P=0.001] and was significantly higher than in the esmolol [CI: from 2.5 (0.2) litre min(-1) m(-2) at baseline to 2.6 (0.2) litre min(-1) m(-2) at 24 h; P=0.18] and the control groups [CI: from 2.4 (0.2) litre min(-1) m(-2) at baseline to 2.7 (0.2) litre min(-1) m(-2) at 24 h; P=0.13]. A significant postoperative release of TnT was detected only in control patients. Plasma BNP levels increased towards the end of surgery in all patients. Peak plasma BNP concentrations were significantly higher in control patients [293 (98) pg ml(-1)] than in esmolol [118 (71) pg ml(-1)] and in esmolol+enoximone-treated patients [78 (21) pg ml(-1)]. CONCLUSIONS Inotropic therapy with the PDE III inhibitor enoximone combined with tight HR control by a continuous infusion of esmolol improved cardiac function and reduced myocardial ischaemia in high-risk vascular surgery patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00348101.