Shearer J K, Caldwell M
Heart Lung. 1979 Mar-Apr;8(2):302-7.
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.
