L'usage post-opératoire des inotropes chez l'enfant après correction d'une cardiopathie

After surgical repair of a congenital cardiac defect, maintenance or restoration of an adequate oxygen supply is essential. Several inotropic agents can be used to improve cardiac output, evaluated mainly on the basis of physical findings and hemodynamic parameters. Selection of the most appropriate agents should take into account the mechanism of action of the drug and the desired hemodynamic goal. Efficacy can be enhanced by the concomitant administration of more than one agent, e.g., low-dose dopamine with dobutamine, or an adrenergic agonist with a phosphodiesterase III inhibitor. In the immediate postoperative period, use of digoxin is warranted only in the event of supraventricular tachycardia.