title: Use of sodium nitroprusside and dopamine hydrochloride in the postoperative cardiac patient.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: D002302:Cardiac Output; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000451:nursing; D004298:Dopamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005292:Ferricyanides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011182:Postoperative Care
chemical_list: D005292:Ferricyanides; D009599:Nitroprusside; D004298:Dopamine