Vasopressin administered as a peripheral infusion (40 U/hr) significantly reduced portal vein pressure in ten awake patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. A vasopressin-induced reduction in cardiac output oc...
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Vasopressin administered as a peripheral infusion (40 U/hr) significantly reduced portal vein pressure in ten awake patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. A vasopressin-induced reduction in cardiac output occurred in five of the ten patients (50 per cent). Vasopressin-induced changes in systemic arterial pressure, heart rate, and portal venous pressure were independent of alterations in cardiac output. When the five patients with vasopressin-induced reductions in cardiac output were given a combination of vasopressin and isoproterenol, cardiac output was maintained and the reduction in portal vein pressure was equal to that observed with unopposed vasopressin therapy. Thus, the addition of isoproterenol prevented a vasopressin-induced reduction in cardiac output while permitting vasopressin to reduce portal vein pressure.
The risk of recurrent variceal bleeding after an acute episode of bleeding has been controlled in significant with rebleeding rates as high as 80% between one and two years. Pharmacologic therapy has a definite role i...
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The risk of recurrent variceal bleeding after an acute episode of bleeding has been controlled in significant with rebleeding rates as high as 80% between one and two years. Pharmacologic therapy has a definite role in the prevention of recurrent variceal bleeding and should be started as soon as the acute bleeding event has been controlled. Serial hemodynamic measurements are critical for success. Non-selective beta-blocker therapy is a reasonable first line approach followed by the addition of a long-acting nitrate for patients not achieving a 20% reduction in the hepatic venous pressure gradient. Most patients will require combination pharmacotherapy or combined endoscopic therapy with pharmacotherapy.
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