[A comparative study of the cardiovascular effect of dobutamine. Preliminary results obtained in a surgical resuscitation unit].

Dobutamine (dobutamin hydrochloride, Lilly) is a new inotropic catecholamine; it is presented in lyophilized ampoules for I.V. use, each containing 250 mg of dobutamine to be reconstituted with 5 per cent glucose or sterile water for injection. In the first part of this study, animal pharmacology is reported as described in medical literature: inotropic activity with minimal chronotropic effects, direct action, no vasconstriction, minimal arrhythmogenic activity and minimal diversion of blood flow to skeletal muscles are the main experimental features. The authors report afterwards their own experience with dobutamine in 8 patients (cranial traumas) without cardiac failure, and in 9 patients presenting with a cardio-circulatory failure in a toxi-infectious condition. In all patients tested, hemodynamics parameters (heart rate, mean A.P., central venous pressure) and cardiac output measurement (dye dilution method) were performed. Cardiac index and systolic index, total systemic resistances, left ventricular performance were also calculated. Dobutamine dosage ranged from 2.5 to 10 mcg/kg/mn except in patients with low output syndrom (2.5 and 5 mcg/kg/mn). Dobutamine offers new possibilities by its constant and indisputable inotropic activity contrasting with its minimal chronotropic effect.