Left ventricular function in tetanus: influence of therapy.

Nine patients hospitalized for tetanus were studied under the same protocol which included two haemodynamic studies with a preload trial (PLT). The first being made during therapy (diazepam barbiturate association), on the sixth day of hospitalisation, and the second one after recovery. The comparison of the results shows that before PLT the mean arterial pressuure (MAP) is significantly increased (p less than 0.05) in patients after recovery in comparison to the same patients undergoing therapy. After PLT there is no significant difference between the two groups. Lastly, the variation of the left ventricular function points under PLT shows no significant difference between patients during therapy and after recovery. These results suggest that the diazepamphenobarbital combination does not alter the left ventricular function of the patients undergoing this therapy during tetanus.