Bolus intravenous nitroglycerin predominantly reduces afterload in patients with excessive arterial elastance

Objectives. We hypothesized that bolus intravenous nitroglycerin would be an afterload-reducing agent in patients with excessive initial afterload for their level of left ventricular systolic function. Conversely, bolus intravenous nitroglycerin should be a preload-reducing in patients without excessive initial afterload.