title: Maternally administered esmolol decreases fetal as well as maternal heart rate.
abstract: Fetal heart rate was monitored during the administration of esmolol 100 micrograms/kg/min to a 36-year-old, 29-week pregnant woman who was undergoing craniotomy for surgical treatment of six cerebral aneurysms. During stable general anesthesia, sodium nitroprusside was administered to induce moderate hypotension; at the same time, esmolol was infused to control maternal tachycardia. Within minutes after starting the esmolol infusion, maternal heart rate decreased from 100 beats/minute to 65 beats/minute, and fetal heart rate decreased from 160 beats/minute to 130 beats/minute. Upon termination of the infusion 3 hours later, both maternal and fetal heart rate returned to preinfusion values. No adverse effects of esmolol infusion were noted in the mother or fetus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Shuer
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000601:surgery; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011412:Propanolamines; C036604:esmolol