Effect of Furosemide on Hemodynamics and Lung Water in Acute Pulmonary Edema Secondary to Myocardial Infarction

Hemodynamic studies were carried out in 19 patients with left ventricular failure complicating acute myocardial infarction. Fourteen patients were studied before and after the intravenous administration of 0.5 mg/kg of furosemide, and five patients served as a control group. Serial measurements included intracardiac pressures, cardiac output and lung water by a double isotope technique. A significant reduction was noted in right atrial (P less than 0.005), pulmonary arterial (P less than 0.0005) and pulmonary wedge pressures (P less than 0.0005) after administration of furosemide. Only the change in right atrial pressure was significantly different from that in the control group (P less than 0.05). Lung water was not changed in 4 patients studied 2 hours after administration of furosemide but was significantly changed in the remaining 10 patients studied 4 to 24 hours after furosemide (P = 0.0001). This change was also significantly different from values in the control group (P less than 0.05). The patients with no reduction in excess lung water also had a smaller reduction in pulmonary wedge pressure and a lower pretreatment stroke work index than the other patients. The mobilization of excess lung water in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by left ventricular failure has several features. Despite a prompt diuresis, the reduction in lung water is delayed for at least several hours after the administration of furosemide and may be related to the degree of left ventricular dysfunction. Venodilation may be a major result of treatment with furosemide.