The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 35, 271-273, Copyright © 1983 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Severe hypotension due to the use of bretylium for postcardiotomy ventricular arrhythmias
IL Kron and SP Nolan
We describe three patients who developed refractory hypotension after the
administration of bretylium tosylate for postoperative ventricular ectopy.
In one patient, the administration of vasopressors and fluid restored the
blood pressure, but in the other two patients these measures failed,
necessitating open-heart cardiac massage. The hemodynamic effects of
bretylium are unpredictable; therefore, this drug should be used cautiously
in the treatment of postcardiotomy ventricular arrhythmias.