title: Effects of dopamine on systemic and regional blood flow and metabolism in septic and cardiac surgery patients.
abstract: Dopamine is used in the clinical setting to support cardiac output and blood pressure and to improve diuresis. Experimental studies suggest that dopamine may reduce splanchnic perfusion and redistribute blood flow locally. To assess the effects of dopamine on splanchnic perfusion, we used dopamine to increase cardiac output by 25% in nine septic patients and 11 patients after cardiac surgery. Systemic (pulmonary artery catheter) and splanchnic (hepatic vein catheter and dye dilution) hemodynamics and oxygen transport were measured at baseline and 90 min after increasing the cardiac output. Dopamine infusion [in cardiac surgery patients 4.2 (1.4-8.5) microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) (median, range) and in septic patients 4.0 (2.1-9.0) microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)] increased splanchnic blood flow in cardiac surgery patients from 0.61 (0.13) L x min(-1) x m(-2) to 0.82 (0.13) L x min(-1) x m(-2) [mean (standard deviation; SD); P = 0.018] and in septic patients from 0.91 (0.32) L x min(-1) x m(-2) to 1.12 (0.40) L x min(-1) x m(-2) (P = 0.038). Splanchnic oxygen consumption increased in cardiac surgery patients from 39 (5) mL x min(-1) x m(-2) to 46 (6) mL x min(-1) x m(-2) (P = 0.003) but decreased in septic patients from 61 (19) mL x min(-1) x m(-2) to 51 (17) L x min(-1) x m(-2) (p = 0.021). Because of the unexpected results, we compared these data post hoc with data obtained from another group of 15 septic patients with acute lung injury, where dobutamine was used to increase cardiac output in a similar design. Dobutamine in these patients [6.4 (4.2-9.5) microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)] increased splanchnic blood flow from 1.20 (0.44) L x min(-1) x m(-2) to 1.43 (0.57) L x min(-1) x m(-2) (P = 0.008), while splanchnic oxygen consumption did not change 72 (25) mL x min(-1) x m(-2) vs. 76 (22) mL x min(-1) x m(-2) (not significant)]. The reduction of splanchnic oxygen consumption by dopamine in sepsis suggests an impairment of hepatosplanchnic metabolism despite an increase in regional perfusion. The safety and indications of dopamine use in sepsis should be re-evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Stephan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Jakob
authors.forename: Esko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruokonen
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Takala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D004280:Dobutamine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055370:Lung Injury; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D013903:Thoracic Surgery
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D004280:Dobutamine; D004298:Dopamine