[Effect of dopamine and prostaglandin E1 on portal venous oxygenation]

We evaluated the effects of dopamine (DA) and PGE1 on portal venous oxygenation in patients undergoing gastrectomy. Thirty-two patients studied were anesthetized with isoflurane and nitrous oxide in oxygen. They were divided into three groups: DA was infused at a rate of 3 micrograms.kg-1.min-1 in 10 patients (DA group), PGE1 was infused at a rate of 0.02 microgram.kg-1.min-1 in 10 patients (PGE1 group), and the remainders did not receive DA nor PGE1 (control group). There were no significant differences in PaO2 and SaO2 among three groups. However, portal venous PO2 and SaO2 in DA and PGE1 group were significantly higher than those in the control group. These results suggest that DA and PGE1 elevate the portal venous PO2 and SO2 by increasing splanchnic blood flow more than its oxygen uptake or without increasing splanchnic oxygen uptake, and increase the oxygen supply to the liver.