Enhanced intravenous urography in renal trauma with low-dose dopamine

Intravenous pyelography is the standard first-line investigation for suspected renal trauma. A faint, and/or delayed visualization, or nonvisualization of the damaged renal unit is not uncommon. Low-dose dopamine (3 micrograms/kg/min) increases renal blood flow without deleterious side effects. An experimental rat model was developed to evaluate the effects of low-dose dopamine on intravenous pyelograms in animals with unilateral renal trauma. A consistent and significant improvement in the visualization of the injured kidney was noted in the dopamine-treated animals compared with controls that received equivalent volumes of normal saline.