I.V. glyceryl trinitrate: haemodynamic effects and clinical use in cardiac surgery.

A commercial preparation of glyceryl trinitrate for i.v. administration was assessed under both experimental and clinical conditions. The overall haemodynamic effects were beneficial during coronary artery grafting and aortic valve replacement, when the drug was given at a rate of 0.8 microgram kg-1 min-1 at which dose there was no appreciable effect on resistance vessels. No adverse side-effects occurred. There was no change in the activity of the preparation, whether diluted or not, over a 6-h period.