Hemodynamic effects of intravenous famotidine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Author(s): Wagner BK, DiFazio LT, Amory DW, Scott GE, Spotnitz AJ

Affiliation(s): College of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08855-0789, USA.

Publication date & source: 1995-01, Pharmacotherapy., 15(1):42-7.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Randomized Controlled Trial

STUDY OBJECTIVE. To determine the hemodynamic effects of famotidine in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. DESIGN. A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. SETTING. A large university teaching hospital. PATIENTS. Twenty-one patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTIONS. The patients received a rapid intravenous bolus injection of famotidine 20 mg or saline placebo after anesthesia induction. A second dose was given 12 hours after surgery in the intensive care unit. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS. Serial hemodynamic measurements (heart rate, arterial blood pressure, cardiac index, pulmonary arterial pressure, central venous pressure, systemic vascular resistance) were obtained after each famotidine or placebo dose and analyzed by ANOVA. The values were not altered (p > 0.05) after intraoperative or postoperative famotidine or placebo administration. CONCLUSIONS. Rapid intravenous bolus administration of famotidine does not alter patient hemodynamics after anesthesia induction or in the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery.