Background: Pulmonary resection may result in a reduction in arterial oxygen pressure as well as in cardiac output. Since cardiac index, oxygen delivery, and oxygen consumption are considered as important determinants of patients' outcome, we evaluated the effects of dopexamine and volume loading on cardiopulmonary variables in patients undergoing pulmonary resection.
Methods: Forty adult patients undergoing pulmonary resection for lung or bronchial tumors were included in an open placebo-controlled study. The patients were selected according to a randomized sequence to group A (n=20) or group B (n=20). Dopexamine (2 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) was started when steady state conditions were achieved after induction of anesthesia in group A. Saline 0.9% was given as control (group B). Hemodynamic monitoring was performed using a pulmonary artery catheter.
Results: Dopexamine increased heart rate, cardiac output and oxygen delivery compared with control without increasing oxygen consumption during anesthesia and surgery. Furthermore, dopexamine was found not to alter the course of PaO2/FiO2 values.
Conclusion: In patients undergoing pulmonary resection, dopexamine can be used perioperatively to increase cardiac index without decreasing the PaO2/FiO2 ratio.