[Use of dopamine in sequelae of extracorporeal circulation. Apropos of 50 patients]. / Utilisation de la dopamine dans les suites de circulation extra-corporelle. A propos de 50 patients.

ABSTRACT

Dopamine was used after open heart surgery in a group of 50 patients. The therapeutic indications were diffuse coronary insufficiency in 27 cases, myocardial infarction in 12 cases and early septicaemic shock in 6 cases. In the other 5 cases, dopamine was prescribed for short lasting circulatory insufficiency. The dosage varied between 3-15 gammas/kg/min. The variations of different parameters were studied over 12 hours. Improvement of cardiac efficiency was an early feature (less than 3 h) and was observed for all dosages (above 3 gammas/kg/min). It was accompanied by a marked diuresis. The chromotropic effects were non-existent at these dosages. At medium-term dopamine was effective in 40 patients (80 p. 100). Dopamine is effective in over 3 out of 4 cases after cardiopulmonary bypass. Its effect is immediate, and is observed in dosages less than 10 gammas/kg/min.