The Administration and Effect of Sodium Nitroprusside in the Treatment of Chronic Congestive Heart Failure

To prove the effectiveness and safety of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in the treatment of chronic congestive heart failure, 58 patients with heart failure and normal renal and hepatic function were selected and divided into 3 groups and treated differently. Group A was treated with routine vasodilators; Group B was treaeted intermittently with SNP (12. 5 -75mg/24hrs); Group C was treated continuously with SNP (continuous infusion of 100 - 300mg/24hrs) Positively inotropie agents and diuretic agents were used in each group. The results showed that the highly effective rates of the three groups were 46. 9% (15/32), 90. 5% (19/21) and 100% (12/12) respectively. The effective rates were 81.3% (26/32), 100% (21/21), 100% (12/12) respectively. The highly effective rates of group B and C were much higher than that of group A ( P 0. 005, P 0. 005) . The reduction of blood pressure of group B and C was greater than that of group A ( P 0. 025) . Among the patients we studied, no body had severe side effects. We concluded that the use of SNP in the treatment of chronic congestive heart failure is safe, with better effect than routine treatment, and continous infusion of SNP is the best choice.