Emergency treatment of severe cardiogenic pulmonary edema with intravenous isosorbide-5-mononitrate.

Intravenous isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN) was administered to 24 patients, mean age 73, with severe respiratory distress after pulmonary edema and acute left heart failure. The condition was due to ischemic cardiopathy in 18 patients (4 with acute myocardial infarctions), congestive cardiomyopathy in 3, hypertensive cardiopathy in 2, and mitral valvular disease in 1. Therapy consisted of an intravenous (i.v.) bolus dose of IS-5-MN, followed by a continuous infusion (mean 8 mg/hour over 24 hours) of i.v. furosemide and additional oxygen. Clinical data were recorded as well as blood gas values and repeated chest radiographs. All patients survived and improved markedly; only 6 needed mechanical ventilation. Most patients had fast respiratory relief, with no untoward reaction, except a brief decrease of blood pressure in a ventilated patient taking morphine. These data indicate that i.v. IS-5-MN is effective and safe for the management of severe acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.