[Hemorrhagic pulmonary edema and cardiac failure following isolated head injury. Treatment with dobutamine and nitroglycerin (author's transl)].

A 12 year boy with an isolated head injury and subdural hematoma developed neurogenic pulmonary edema and intraoperatively a low cardiac output syndrome. The postoperatively depressed cardiac function and hemorrhagic pulmonary edema were treated with Dobutamine and Nitroglycerin given intravenously. The beta-1-stimulating catecholamine was used because of its positive inotropic effect, to reduce pulmonary capillary pressure and to improve the afterload. Nitroglycerin applied in a low dosage with exclusive venodilator effect was added for treatment of pulmonary edema and left ventricular failure. About 2 1/2 h after the start of the treatment pulmonary edema had subsided and circulation was stabilized.