Outpatient dobutamine infusion using a totally implantable infusion pump for refractory congestive heart failure.

A patient with refractory congestive heart failure was treated, on an outpatient basis, with intermittent dobutamine using a totally implantable infusion pump. Dobutamine was infused for 48 hours every week and resulted in sustained clinical improvement. Symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure remained well controlled until his death from a stroke eight months after implantation of the pump.