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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Dobutimine
This forum is for questions and support regarding heart issues such as: Angina, Angioplasty, Arrhythmia, Bypass Surgery, Cardiomyopathy, Coronary Artery Disease, Defibrillator, Heart Attack, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Pacemaker, PAD, Stenosis, Stress Tests.
Dobutimine
by Dee, Oct 19, 2000 12:00AM
My father-in-law was admitted to the hospital on October 17 to begin treatment with Dobutimine. He had open-heart surgery last December and has been steadily getting weaker. After doing various tests, his doctors have concluded that his heart is not pumping hard enough to thoroughly cleanse his kidneys, so they are using Dobutimine to try to increase the work his heart is doing. His symtoms included nausea, aversion to food, heavy breathing, and sleeplessness. Also, he is not very stable while walking and has had several falls. My mother-in-law asked me to check the Internet for information about Dobutimine. I have two questions.
1. Is this treatment usually successful?
2. What can we expect from this treatment?
Thanks!
Dee
1. Is this treatment usually successful?
2. What can we expect from this treatment?
Thanks!
Dee
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB, Oct 19, 2000 12:00AM
1. Yes , this treatment usually works in the short-term, though it is not a long-term solution. He will need to be started on several different oral medications to substitute for the intravenous dobutamine once he gets better.
2. The dobutamine will make his heart pump harder and hopefully supply more blood to his kidneys. However, if he has weak heart muscle and additionally his kidneys appear to be failing, this is a particularly bad combination, and he is likely to require many hospitalizations over the next several months.
2. The dobutamine will make his heart pump harder and hopefully supply more blood to his kidneys. However, if he has weak heart muscle and additionally his kidneys appear to be failing, this is a particularly bad combination, and he is likely to require many hospitalizations over the next several months.
