Dobutamine infusion for the treatment of congestive heart failure in the home care setting.

High-tech home infusion therapies are becoming more commonplace. In particular, a therapy that challenges the home infusion nurse is the delivery of dobutamine to manage the patient with congestive heart failure. In this article, the author discusses the causes, symptoms, and diagnostic tests associated with congestive heart failure. Pharmacokinetics, dosage, and side effects of dobutamine are addressed. Emphasis is placed on home dobutamine treatment and associated assessment, monitoring, follow-up, and administration considerations.