Does prophylactic infusion of nitroglycerin or nicardipine minimize hypertension after sternotomy in patients undergoing off-pump CABG?
The study investigates the use of prophylactic nitroglycerin or nicardipine to minimize hypertension after sternotomy during off-pump CABG.
Background: Tight control of blood pressure in patients with coronary artery disease is critical, especially in the setting of long-standing hypertension and left ventricular dysfunction. With off-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), hypertension usually occurs after the sternotomy, along with an increase in heart rate and filling pressure. In order to minimize hypertension during this period, nitroglycerin or nicardipine was prophylactically infused.
Hong et al. (2002) studied this question.