Use of sodium nitroprusside and dopamine hydrochloride in the postoperative cardiac patient
Shearer, J.K.; Caldwell, M.
Heart and Lung the Journal of Critical Care 8(2): 302-307
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0147-9563 PMID: 253707 Document Number: 147060
Effective postoperative nursing care of the cardiac surgery patient receiving combined drug infusion of dopamine HCl and SNP requires awareness of many critical factors. Among these are: (1) understanding of cardiac physiology with emphasis on the concepts of myocardial oxygen consumption vs. availability; (2) basic pharmacologic functions of dopamine HCl and SNP, both singly and combined; (3) importance of maintaining intravascular volume at optimum levels; and (4) awareness that constant nursing observations and reassessments are essential.