Amrinone is a positive inotropic agent which has been widely used for treatment of left heart failure. As this drug has a relaxing effect on smooth muscle cells, we considered that hemodynamics and ventilatory mechanics could be simultaneously improved in patients with right heart failure caused by obstructive lung disease. Swan-Ganz catheters were used in 11 patients. Following injection of 1.5 mg/kg Amrinone, cardiac output increased from 6.1 to 6.9 l/min (p less than 0.05). Stroke volume showed only a slight increase; pulmonary vascular resistance was reduced from 407 to 308 dynes . s . cm-5 (p less than 0.01). Body plethysmographic examination revealed a decrease of specific airway resistance from 33 to 24 cm H2O . s (p less than 0.01).
Conclusion: In patients with right heart failure due to obstructive lung disease Amrinone application can result in an improvement in both hemodynamics and ventilatory mechanics.