Effects of esmolol on systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and on oxygenation in pigs with hypodynamic endotoxin shock.

Purpose: The aim of this experimental study is to investigate cardiovascular tolerance of blockade of beta-adrenergic receptors in an endotoxin model.

Design: Prospective, randomized, controlled study.

Setting: Animal laboratory in a university medical center.

Methods: Ten anesthetized, mechanically ventilated pigs were challenged with intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to achieve a status of profound hypodynamic shock. Systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics and cardiac output were continuously monitored throughout the 5-h study period, and blood samples were taken at baseline (T - 30 min), 1 h from the beginning of LPS infusion (T + 60 min), and every 2 h (T + 180 min and T + 300 min). Animals were randomly assigned to continuous intravenous esmolol infusion titrated to decrease heart rate by 20% or isotonic saline.

Results: Esmolol decreased heart rate by 20%, while in the saline group, heart rate increased by 7% and 22% at T + 180 min and T + 300 min, respectively (p < 0.001). In esmolol-treated animals, cardiac index decreased by 9% at T + 180 min and by 2% at T + 300 min, and in controls by 14% at T + 180 min and by 27% at T + 300 min (p = 0.870). In esmolol-treated animals, median (interquartile range, IQR) stroke index was 31 (6) and 47 (11) ml/min/m(2) at T + 180 min and T + 300 min, respectively, and decreased steadily from 45 (20) to 18 (13) ml/min/m(2) in controls (p = 0.030). There were no significant differences between groups for any other hemodynamics variables, except for systemic vascular resistance (SVR) (p = 0.017).

Conclusions: In large animals with endotoxemic shock, continuous infusion of esmolol, a selective beta-1 adrenergic blocker, titrated to decrease heart rate by 20%, was well tolerated and may offset LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction by a preload positive effect.