title: Decrease in arterial pressure following heparin injection prior to cardiopulmonary bypass.
abstract: Evidence exists in the literature that heparin has vasodilating properties. We recorded arterial blood pressure changes that occur after administration of 300 units/kg of beef-lung heparin prior to cardiopulmonary bypass. In 37 out of 43 patients there was a significant decrease in arterial pressure following administration of beef-lung sodium heparin. Systolic blood pressure fell approximately 10 mmHg (1.3 kPa) and diastolic blood pressure fell about 5 mmHg (0.65 kPa). Heart rates remained unchanged. In 7 of the 43 patients in whom pulmonary artery catheters were placed, cardiac output was determined and systemic vascular resistance was calculated. On the basis of these calculations, it seems that a decrease in systemic vascular resistance is responsible for the decrease in arterial blood pressure noted following sodium heparin.
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000187:drug effects; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D011292:Premedication; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin