Dobutamine improves gastrointestinal mucosal blood flow in a porcine model of endotoxic shock.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that saline solution plus dobutamine increases gastrointestinal mucosal perfusion better than saline solution alone in a model of endotoxic shock.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, unblinded study.


METHODS
Animal research laboratory affiliated with a university teaching hospital.


METHODS
Twelve female pigs, weighing 30 to 32 kg.


METHODS
Animals were anesthetized, and their lungs were mechanically ventilated. Catheters were inserted into the right atrium, pulmonary artery, and carotid artery for blood sampling and blood pressure and cardiac output measurements. A tonometer and a laser Doppler probe were placed in the lumen of the stomach and the ileum for determination of mucosal acid-base status and measurement of mucosal blood flow. Group 1 animals (n = 6) received an infusion (T = 0 min) of 150 mcirog/kg Escherichia coli endotoxin and normal saline solution (0.3 mL/kg/min). Group 2 animals (n = 6) received an infusion of endotoxin and were resuscitated with the same method as used in group 1, but an infusion of dobutamine (5 microg/kg/min) was begun at T = 60 mins, and continued for the duration of the experiment.


RESULTS
Both experimental regimens produced shock, with decreased mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance, without change in cardiac output and oxygen delivery. Endotoxin plus saline infusion decreased gastrointestinal mucosal blood flow to <60% of baseline and decreased gastrointestinal pH. In contrast, gastrointestinal mucosal blood flow returned to baseline values, and intramucosal pH tended to normalize by the end of the saline solution plus dobutamine resuscitative protocol.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with saline solution alone, saline solution plus dobutamine increased blood flow to the gastrointestinal mucosa, and may have partially improved oxygenation.
Nevière
R
R
Service de Réanimation Médicale et Médecine Hyperbare, Hôpital Calmette, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Lille, France.
Chagnon
J L
JL
Vallet
B
B
Lebleu
N
N
Marechal
X
X
Mathieu
D
D
Wattel
F
F
Dupuis
B
B
D000818:Animals; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply*; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D011897:Random Allocation; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013552:Swine
D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004280:Dobutamine