The role of intravenous (IV) inotropes in the treatment of ambulatory patients with advanced heart failure (HF) remains controversial.

This was a retrospective study of patients with advanced HF. Patients on home IV milrinone, who remained on it for at least 3 months, were included. We compared the data from 3 months before starting IV milrinone to 3 months after initiating therapy. A subset of patients who remained on milrinone for 6 months or longer was analysed separately.

A total of 90 patients remained on continuous IV milrinone for 3 months, and 55 patients were treated for 6 months or longer. In both groups, improvements in cardiac index (1.86–2.25, p<0.001 and 1.9–2.38, p<0.0001), New York Heart Association (NYHA) class (3.32–2.76, p<0.0001 and 3.25–2.72, p=0.001), and liver function were noted. In the 6-month group, there was also a decrease in mean hospitalised days per patient (9.40 vs 4.12, p<0.001) and an improved tolerance of beta blocker therapy (83.3% vs 98.1%, p=0.006).

Long-term IV use of milrinone is associated with improvement in haemodynamics, functional class, tolerance of medical therapy, and decrease in hospitalised days.