Effects of pentoxifylline on hemodynamics and oxygenation in septic and nonseptic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of pentoxifylline on hemodynamics and systemic oxygenation in septic and nonseptic critically ill patients.


METHODS
Prospective clinical investigation.


METHODS
Intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital.


METHODS
Nineteen critically ill patients were included in the study 1 to 4 days after their admission to the ICU. A systemic inflammatory response syndrome was present in 12 patients, fulfilling at least two of the American College of Chest Physicians/ Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference criteria. The other seven patients did not fulfill these criteria and were classified as nonseptic.


METHODS
All patients were mechanically ventilated. The dosage of catecholamines was kept constant during the entire study period and at least during 15 mins before the start of the study. In both study groups, pulmonary and radial artery catheters were inserted and 5 mg/kg of pentoxifylline (diluted in 300 mL of physiologic saline) was intravenously administered over a period of 180 mins at a rate of 100 mL/hr.


RESULTS
Hemodynamic variables, oxygen transport (DO2), oxygen uptake (VO2), and oxygen extraction ratio were determined before pentoxifylline, after 2.5 mg/kg of pentoxifylline, after 5 mg/kg of pentoxifylline, and 60 mins after the termination of pentoxifylline. Repeated-measures analysis of variance and Mann-Whitney test were used for statistical analysis. At baseline, there were significant differences between the septic and the nonseptic groups in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (septic: 31 +/- 5 mm Hg; nonseptic: 26 +/- 7 mm Hg, p < .05), and pulmonary vascular resistance index (PVRI) (septic: 344 +/- 121 dyne.sec/ cm5.m2; nonseptic: 233 +/- 100 dyne.sec/cm5.m2, p < .05). In the septic group, significant increases in heart rate and cardiac index were observed. Systemic vascular resistance index and PVRI decreased. No significant changes in hemodynamic variables occurred in the nonseptic group. In both groups, DO2 and VO2 increased significantly, while oxygen extraction ratio remained unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of pentoxifylline to septic patients results in a significant improvement in hemodynamic performance compared with critically ill nonseptic patients. The better hemodynamic state is accompanied by an increase in DO2 and VO2 with unchanged oxygen extraction ratio.
Bacher
A
A
Department of Anesthesiology and General Intensive Care, University of Vienna, Austria.
Mayer
N
N
Klimscha
W
W
Oismüller
C
C
Steltzer
H
H
Hammerle
A
A
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects*; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality; D013815:Thermodilution; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D010431:Pentoxifylline