Chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Increasing splanchnic blood flow in the critically III.
To assess the effect of low dose dopexamine and dopamine on splanchnic blood flow as measured by gastric intramucosal pH, hepatic metabolism of lidocaine (lignocaine) to monoethylglycinexy-lidide (MEGX), and plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (ICG). ⋯ Low-dose dopexamine increases splanchnic blood flow as measured by gastric intramucosal pH, MEGX formation from lidocaine, and ICG clearance. The lack of any change in the systemic measurements suggests that these effects are the result of a selective vasodilatation of the splanchnic vessels. At the dose used in this study, dopamine had no effect on splanchnic blood flow. Dopexamine may be useful in the management of splanchnic ischemia in the critically ill.