The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 75, 725-729, Copyright © 1978 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Use of tolazoline in newborn infants with diaphragmatic hernia and severe cardiopulmonary disease. A preliminary report
DS Moodie, RL Telander, F Kleinberg and RH Feldt
Two newborn infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, one of whom died,
had significant improvement in arterial oxygen tension (Pao2) after
intravenous administration of tolazoline (Priscoline) (1 to 2 mg. per
kilogram). In both infants, systemic hypotension developed within minutes
of administration of the drug and required pharmacologic and hemodynamic
intervention. The response to tolazoline was more dramatic in the infant
who survived, and his oxygen requirements were significantly reduced after
the use of this drug. The infant who died also had a significant response
to tolazoline. Tolazoline appears to be an important pharmacologic agent
for use in the postoperative care of infants with diaphragmatic hernia and
associated hypoxemia and acidosis.