Comparative haemodynamic and peripheral vasodilator effects of oral and chewable isosorbide dinitrate in patients with refractory congestive cardiac failure.

venous capacitance, and calf blood flow were compared in a double-blind trial in 18 patients with refractory chronic congestive heart failure with pulmonary artery end-diastolic pressures >18 mmHg. Cardiac output and right heart pressures were measured with a Swan-Ganz thermodilution catheter, arterial pressure through an indwelling radial artery cannula, and venous capacitance and calf blood flow by vascular occlusion plethysmography. Both agents reduced pulmonary artery end-diastolic pressures