Dobutamine as palliative drug in home-care advanced cancer patients.
We describe a patient with advanced cancer whose severe symptoms of congestive heart failure were successfully treated with dobutamine. The intermittent intravenous administration of dobutamine 5 micrograms/kg/min for 3 hr per day at home enabled control of dyspnea, leg edema, and pain, and increased urine output after 1 day. An improvement in renal function was observed in the following days. The mechanism and the utility of a palliative approach with dobutamine are discussed.
Mercadante
S
S
Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Buccheri La Ferla Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Palermo, Italy.
Simonetti
M T
MT
D004280:Dobutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010166:Palliative Care
D004280:Dobutamine