The American journal of cardiology
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Biography Historical Article
Del Vecchio (1895) on suture of the heart--II.
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Case Reports
Electrocardiographic changes and cardiac arrhythmias in patients receiving psychotropic drugs.
Eight patients had cardiac manifestations that were life-threatening in five while taking psychotropic drugs, either phenothiazines or tricyclic antidepressants. Although most patients were receiving several drugs, Mellaril (thioridazine) appeared to be responsible for five cases of ventricular tachycardia, one of which was fatal in a 35 year old woman. Supraventricular tachycardia developed in one patient receiving Thorazine (chlorpromazine). ⋯ Five of the eight patients were 50 years of age or younger; only one clearly had antecedent heart disease. Major cardiac arrhythmias are a potential hazard in patients without heart disease who are receiving customary therapeutic doses of psychotropic drugs. A prospective clinical trial is suggested to quantify the risk of cardiac complications to patients receiving phenothiazines or tricyclic antidepressant drugs.
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Comparative Study
Comparative cardiac dynamic effects of dobutamine and isoproterenol in conscious instrumented dogs.
The cardiac dynamic consequences were evaluated of constant infusions of dobutamine and isoproterenol at graded dose levels into conscious, healthy instrumented dogs. Measurements were made of simultaneous changes in left ventricular internal diameter, pressure, aortic pressure and rate of rise of left ventricular pressure(dP/dt), as well as the left ventricular electrogram. From these primary variables, derived variables were computed using programs in a minicomputer system. ⋯ Cardiac minute work (heart rate X stroke work) was increased by both drugs. However, with infusions of isoproterenol the amount of cardiac minute work was significantly limited because of the changes in heart rate, whereas with dobutamine cardiac minute work could be increased to a higher level as a function of changes in myocardial contractility alone without changes in heart rate. These data suggest that dobutamine selectively increases myocardial contractility.
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Biography Historical Article
Carrel and Tuffier (1914) on experimental surgery of the cardiac orifices.