The effect of dopamine on postburn myocardial depression

Myocardial performance is severely depressed following burns to more than 30% of the body surface area. Cardiac output in the immediate postburn period is dissociated from plasma volume. Many attempts have been made to improve early postburn hemodynamics with little success. Continuous infusion dopamine in low doses has recently been reported to improve at least one index of cardiac performance (LVSWI). We report the use of low-dose (5-10 mcg/kg X min) dopamine in the first 24 hours postburn in 20 seriously burned adults. Hemodynamic data are presented immediately preinfusion and after 1 hour of dopamine. Low-dose dopamine produced no change in cardiac index, arterial pressure, LVSWI, or any other hemodynamic parameter. We conclude that dopamine is of no benefit in treating the depressed myocardial function seen following major burns.