Slope of preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW_slope), slope of the end systolic pressure volume relationship (ESPVR_slope), left ventricular diastolic stiffness constant (β) and the slope of the linear end diastolic pressure volume relationship (EDPVR_slope) obtained during dynamic preload reduction at baseline and 1, 2 and 3 h after reperfusion following cardioplegic arrest. Control: filled circles; esmolol: open rectangles; *: significantly different (p < 0.01) from value to the left in control; #: significantly different (p < 0.025) from corresponding value in control with Newman–Keuls multiple contrast tests. Error bars are SEM.