Transplantation
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The effectiveness and reliability of long-term control of circulatory stability in brain-dead patients by combined administration of vasopressin and catecholamine was examined in detail. Twenty-five patients were divided into three groups according to the dose of vasopressin. The first group (n = 10) received no vasopressin, the second group (n = 2) an antidiuretic dose (0.1-0.4 U/hr), and the third group (n = 13) a pressor dose (1-2 U/hr), respectively. ⋯ Individually, catecholamines exhibit characteristic differences. Epinephrine has significant effects on both peripheral vessels and the heart, whereas norepinephrine keeps the circulation stable by increasing the total peripheral resistance index, with a much larger dose than epinephrine. Dopamine acts primarily on the heart.