Influence of dopexamine on hemodynamics, intramucosal pH, and regulators of the macrocirculation and microcirculation in patients undergoing abdominal aortic surgery

Abstract Objective: To investigate whether dopexamine hydrochloride beneficially influences splanchnic perfusion and regulators of the macrocirculation and microcirculation in patients undergoing surgery of the abdominal aorta. Design: Prospective, blinded, and randomized study. Setting: University-affiliated hospital. Participants: Twenty patients undergoing elective abdominal aortic surgery. Interventions: The patients were randomized to one of two groups. In the dopexamine group (DOP, n = 10), dopexamine, 1 μg/kg/min, was started before surgery and continued for 24 hours. In the control group (COG, n = 10), patients received saline solution as placebo. Extensive hemodynamic monitoring wa…