Haemodynamic effects of calcium chloride administered intravenously to patients with and without cardiac disease during neurolept anaesthesia.

During neurolept anaesthesia, calcium chloride (15 mg/kg) was administered intravenously to two different groups of patients undergoing vascular surgery on the abdominal aorta. The patients in group I all suffered from cardiac disease and were treated with digoxin, while the patients in group II had no cardiac symptoms. Cardiovascular measurements were made during steady-state anaesthesia. In group I, CaCl2 increased cardiac index (CI) significantly while systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) remained unchanged. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased. In group II, both MAP and SVRI increased while CI remained unchanged. No significant changes in heart rate were observed and no arrhythmias occurred. It is concluded that CaCl2 administered intravenously is an effective means of improving cardiac function when it is depressed by anaesthesia, underlying cardiac disease, or both.