[Effect of increasing doses of dopamine on the left ventricular function in the dog]

A study on eleven dogs of the effects of increasing doses of dopamine on the left ventricular function. A description of the method which consists of a venous shunt connected to an extra-corporeal circuit and which allows modification simply and rapidly of the state of vascular refilling of the animal. The results differ according to the pressure-level of the refilling of the left ventricule. At low pressure, the dopamine increases the arterial pressure, the cardiac output and the systolic activity of the left ventricle for a reduced tachycardic effect. At higher pressure, the average aortic pressure is only slightly increased and the systolic activity is elevated without increase in cardiac output. These facts indicate dopamine in states of shock with a low pressure of refilling.