Abstract
Objective: To compare the effects of dopexamine and dopamine on the mucosal permeability of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Design: Prospective, randomised clinical trial. Setting: Intensive care unit of a postgraduate teaching hospital, London, England. Patients: Thirty patients undergoing elective surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass, performed by a single surgeon. Interventions: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either dopexamine 2.0 μg/kg per min or dopamine 2.5 μg/kg per min for the duration of the study period. Measurements and main results: Hemodynamic parameters and gastric intramucosal pH (pHi) were measured at intervals throughout the study. GIT permeability was measured once, post-operatively, using the ratio of absorbed lactulose to L-rhamnose. The groups were similar with respect to demographics, pre- and post-operative risk factors. The lactulose/rhamnose ratio was (mean ± SEM) 0.44 ± 0.10 in the dopexamine group vs 0.65 ± 0.08 in that receiving dopamine (p < 0.05). The dopexamine group had a significantly higher oxygen delivery preoperatively (479.5 ± 32.0 ml/min per m2 vs 344.4 ± 23.9 ml/min per m2 for dopamine, p < 0.01), but no other significant differences emerged between the groups. Conclusions: Compared to dopamine, dopexamine reduces GIT permeability following surgery involving cardiopulmonary bypass. The mechanism of this effect remains unclear.
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Received: 22 May 1996 Accepted: 26 October 1996
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Sinclair, D., Houldsworth, P., Keogh, B. et al. Gastrointestinal permeability following cardiopulmonary bypass: a randomised study comparing the effects of dopamine and dopexamine. Intensive Care Med 23, 510–516 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s001340050366
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s001340050366