Effect of dopamine on hepatosplanchnic blood flow

Hepatosplanchnic blood flow (EHBF) was estimated with the single-injection method using indocyanine green in 10 patients without cardiac failure before and after 20 min of an intravenous infusion of dopamine. Five patients received 4 microgram/kg/min and another 5 patients 8 microgram/kg/min. The cardiac index (CI) was determined according to the Fick principle, and the arterio-hepatovenous oxygen difference (AV DO2 AO/HV) was measured. The mean increase in EHBF in the 10 patients was from 640 +/- 46 ml/min/m2 to 831 +/- 56 ml/min/m2 (p less than 0.001). The percentage of EHBF to CI increased from 24.1 +/- 2.0% to 26.4 +/- 1.6% (p less than 0.05). The mean AV DO2 AO/HV dropped from 49.6 +/- 3.8 ml/liter to 40.4+/- 2.9 ml/liter (p less than 0.005). We conclude that dopamine given at rates of 4 and 8 microgram/kg/min to patients whose hearts are well compensated increases hepatosplanchnic flow. Thus, the large increase in renal blood flow which occurs with dopamine is not at the expense of hepatosplanchnic blood flow.