The Thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon
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Thorac Cardiovasc Surg · Aug 1987
Preliminary results with amrinone in perioperative low cardiac output syndrome.
The hemodynamic parameters of 24 cardiosurgical patients with low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) after weaning from bypass were evaluated retrospectively. These patients were additionally treated with amrinone if the conventional therapy with catecholamines and vasodilators did not reach satisfying hemodynamic results. 14 patients underwent aorto-coronary bypass surgery, 10 patients underwent valve repair. Their disability by NYHA class was III and IV. ⋯ The platelet count dropped from nearly 100,000/mm3 in mean (first measurement post-op.) to 58,000 in mean (the lowest value during 48 hours on intensive care). 2 patients showed a decrease to 11,000 and 15,000/mm3 with petechial bleedings. These findings indicate that on the one hand amrinone seems to be a promising drug in cases of severe LCOS when conventional therapy fails, but on the other hand a marked decrease of the platelets can occur. Therefore a frequent control of platelet count has to be performed when using amrinone.