Evaluation of side effects, morbidity and mortality rate in patients with acute inferior infarction following the intravenous use of nitroglycerin

¯Abstract Background: Different methods are being used for treatment of acute inferior myocardial (MI) infarction. Intravenous nitroglycerin is one of these methods although with some side effects especially when reperfusion of the artery is impossible. Objective: This research was performed to determine the side effects, mortality and morbidity rate associated with the use of this drug in hospitals. Methods: This is an existing data study, which was carried out on 1080 patients with inferior MI who were hospitalized in Kashan Shahid Beheshti Hospital. The patients were treated with or without intravenous nitroglycerin during 8 years from 1994-2001. One hundred eighty eight patients with isolated acute inferior MI with no electrocardiographic sign of right ventricular MI or MI of other parts without any history of MI were chosen. Out of 188 patients, 112 patients were treated with intravenous nitroglycerin (TNG+) and 76 patients treated without this drug (TNG-). The age range of patients was between 25 to 85 years old (59.84±10.82) and with a sex distribution of 40 women and 148 men. Findings: The mean value of hospitalization period among the TNG+ group was significantly more than the control group (P= 0.046). The rate of hospital mortality and morbidity in patients treated with intravenous nitroglycerin was less than the TNG- group, although statistically insignificant. The reduction of blood pressure in TNG+ patients was significantly more than the TNG- group (P=0.027). Sinus bradycardia in patients treated with TNG was significantly less than the TNG- group (P= 0.037). Sinus tachycardia in group treated with TNG was more than the TNG-group, however, no statistically significant difference seen (P= 0.434). There was no statistical difference between two groups when the signs of other types of dysrhythmia were compared. Conclusion: Regarding the observation of more side effects among the patients with acute inferior MI treated with intravenous TNG, more caution is needed when this type of therapy is administered.