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Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 1999;15:199-203
© 1999 Elsevier Science NL

The effect of the ultrashort beta-blocker esmolol on cardiac function recovery: an experimental study

Jan Pirk^a,*, Frantiek Kolá^b, Bohuslav Ot'ádal^b, Josef ediv^a, Alexandra Stambergová^a, Pavel Kellovsk^a

^a Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine (Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny), Prague, Czech Republic
^b Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (Fyziologick ústav Akademie vd eské republiky), Prague, Czech Republic

Received 31 August 1998; received in revised form 23 November 1998; accepted 1 December 1998.

^* Contact author. IKEM, Vídeská 1958/9, 140 21 Prague 4, Czech Republic. Tel.: +420-2-472-3245; fax: +420-2-472-1362; e-mail: japx@medicon.cz

Objective: This is an experimental work designed to determine, using the isolated perfused rat heart, the effect of the ultra-short acting beta-blocker esmolol on cardiac arrest and cardiac function recovery following esmolol withdrawal. Methods: Changes in heart rate, coronary flow, diastolic pressure and the rate pressure product were evaluated on the isolated heart (Langendorff model). Esmolol concentrations of 125, 250, and 500 mg/l were tested. In another experiment using esmolol concentration of 250 mg/l, cardiac function recovery was assessed after 20- and 45-min arrest. Results: While concentrations of 250 and 500 mg/l are necessary to produce cardiac arrest, the concentration of 500 mg/l does not result in full cardiac function recovery following esmolol withdrawal. After the highest concentration of esmolol, coronary flow, heart rate and the rate-pressure product recovered to about 80, 70 and 60% of the initial control values, respectively. When comparing 20- and 45-min arrests we found cardiac function normalization occurs later after 45-min arrest. Conclusion: The induction of cardiac arrest by esmolol is optimal at a concentration of 250 mg/l. A concentration of 125 mg/l does not result in cardiac arrest and produces bradycardia only, a concentration of 500 mg/l may be dangerous on account of persisting undesirable effects on the rat heart.

Key Words: Surgical management of ischemic heart disease • Beta-blockers • Cardioplegia

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. Bessho and D. J. Chambers Myocardial protection: The efficacy of an ultra-short-acting {beta}-blocker, esmolol, as a cardioplegic agent J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., November 1, 2001; 122(5): 993 - 1003. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]