Abstract: A method for treating medical patients suffering from cardiac trauma by co-administering pyruvate with a .beta.-adrenergic agonist. This method for treating cardiac trauma, such as ischemic reperfusion injury and heart failure, augments the inotropic effects of .beta.-adrenergic agents. Typical .beta.-adrenergic agonists are epinephrine, norepinephrine, dobutamine, and isoproterenol. The amount of .beta.-adrenergic agonist necessary to achieve a 50 percent increase of cardiac power is diminished five-fold when co-administered with pyruvate. Since high concentrations of agonists have many detrimental and hazardous side effects in patients, this invention would have important applications in the treatment of patients with cardiac trauma such as ischemia reperfusion injury.