Anesthesiology
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Vasopressors, such as norepinephrine, are frequently used to treat perioperative hypotension. Increasing perfusion pressure with norepinephrine may increase blood flow in regions at risk. However, the resulting vasoconstriction could deteriorate microcirculatory blood flow in the intestinal tract and kidneys. This animal study was designed to investigate the effects of treating perioperative hypotension with norepinephrine during laparotomy with low fluid volume replacement. ⋯ In this model of abdominal surgery in which clinical conditions were imitated as close as possible, treatment of perioperative hypotension with norepinephrine had no adverse effects on microcirculatory blood flow or tissue oxygen tension in the intestinal tract.