Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of clinical use of sodium nitroprusside.Methods: The data of 3894 hospitalized patients who had ever been treated with sodium nitroprusside between 1995 and 2004 in our hospital were retrospectively collected.The therapeutic dose

time of therapy

effective rate and side effect were assessed.Results: The minimum time of continuous infusion with sodium nitroprusside was 0.5hour

the maximum 368 hours

average 125.5±24.2 hours.The minimum dose of sodium nitroprusside infusion was 0.2μg/(kg·min)

the maximum 9.8μg/(kg·min)

average 3.1±1.9μg/(kg·min).The minimum dose of continuous infusion was 2.5mg

the maximum 2050mg

average 210±26.7mg.Among the 3894 patients

3524 cases were effective

accounting for 90.4%;278 cases were ineffective

accounting for 7.1%;95 cases were death

amounting 2.4%

among which the cases caused by ssodium nitroprusside toxicity accounted for 0.02%.The total incidence of caused by sodium sodium nitroprusside toxicity accounted for 0.02%.The total incidence of common side effect was 13.7%.The incidence of hypotention

rebound and tolerance were 10.2%

3.2%

and 0.3% respectively

which might be prevented by some protective measures.Conclusion: It is effective and safe for patients to undergo treatment with sodium nitroprusside.Sever toxicity is rare.Although the common side effect is frequent

but it can be controlled.