Effect of sodium nitroprusside on cardiac output during cross-clamping of the descending thoracic aorta in pigs.

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) is used to control proximal hypertension during cross-clamping of the descending thoracic aorta (XC). To assess the haemodynamic effects of SNP on cardiac output (CO) during XC, 21 pigs were anaesthetized with ketamine and fentanyl. In the control group (n = 11), no vasodilating therapy was given. In the investigation group (SNP group), 2 animals died during the surgical preparation and were excluded, leaving 8 animals in the group (n = 8). In these animals, SNP was infused in order to keep the mean arterial pressure (MAP) at about 100 mm Hg during cross-clamping. In both groups, aorta was cross-clamped for 30 min, and cardiac output (CO) was measured by the thermodilution technique. Following cross-clamping, CO increased 107% in the control group and 96% in the SNP group. There was an increase in heart rate (HR) of 77% in the control group and of 110% in the SNP group, and a reduction in systemic vascular resistance of 41% in the SNP group. Stroke volume (SV) was unchanged in both groups. MAP increased 83% in the control-group. No differences were observed between the two groups regarding central venous pressure or pulmonary artery pressure. Four animals in the SNP group died 5-10 min after release of the aortic clamp. In conclusion, we found equal increase in CO in both groups. The increase in CO was related predominantly to increased HR, whereas SV was largely unaltered. Vasodilation with SNP increased the mortality following clamp removal in this experimental model.