The authors investigated the effect of intravenous nitroglycerin and trimepranol on the haemodynamics of patients with acute myocardial infarction. They found that nitroglycerin has a favourable effect on haemodynamics as it leads to a reduction of the pressure in the wedged pulmonary artery and to a reduction of oxygen requirement of the cardiac muscle, while the changes of the minute volume and pulse rate are insignificant. Trimepranol leads to a rise of pressure in the wedged pulmonary artery, sometimes to critical values, and to a decline of the cardiac minute output. The authors conclude that trimepranol is suitable for a selected group of patients with sinus tachycardia and without signs of cardiac failure while the pulmonary pressure is carefully monitored. Nitroglycerin can be administered to the majority of patients with acute myocardial infarction. To ensure safe administration it is sufficient to monitor the heart rate and in particular the systemic pressure. It is best to administer it to patients with extensive myocardial infarctions with a high filling pressure of the left ventricle.

Keywords: Adult; Aged; Female; Hemodynamics /drug effects/; Humans; Male; Metipranolol /pharmacology/; Middle Aged; Myocardial Infarction /physiopathology/; Nitroglycerin /pharmacology/