The prevalence of congestive heart failure (CHF) and its progressive degenerative course continue to generate pressure for alternative, more effective means of treatment. A confluence of factors, including the number of Americans with CHF, the spiraling costs of hospital care, and increasing interest in cost-effective home care, contribute to the current efforts to develop an effective, nontoxic therapy that effectively increases myocardial contractility and output and can be administered within the confines of the home. Given that preliminary clinical trials in the hospital setting with amrinone have produced positive results, the transition of this therapy to the home, when administered intermittently via central venous catheter and infusion pump, was undertaken. In order to prolong and increase quality of life in terminal CHF patients, intermittent amrinone infusions were provided at home to four patients as part of our pilot program. All four patients met the criteria for New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class IV heart failure, and none had responded to conventional therapy suitable for outpatient maintenance. The patients also shared strong family support and an intense desire to improve the quality of remaining life. All four patients and designated family members were trained in the specifics of aseptic technique, medication dose preparation, central venous catheter care, and operation of an infusion pump. An ambulatory pump was used in three of the four patients. Subsequent to the initiation of intermittent home amrinone infusions, all four patients had greater tolerance to limited exercise and/or ambulation secondary to increased cardiac output and diuresis. Patients survived 8, 10, 47, and 56 weeks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)