Prevention of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Pilot Study Comparing Dobutamine and Milrinone*

Abstract

Dobutamine and milrinone are safe, well tolerated, and equally effective in prevention of low cardiac output syndrome after pediatric cardiac surgery. The hemodynamic response of the two drugs is comparable. In uncomplicated cases, a trend toward the more cost-saving dobutamine might be anticipated; however, milrinone demonstrated a trend toward higher efficacy in afterload reduction.