[Catecholamines in internal medicine emergencies].

The most important indications for the application of the catecholamines dopamine and dobutamine in the internal intensive medical care are acute disturbances of the peripheral vascular regulation and acute heart failure. Differential therapeutic considerations are due to the different actions of both pharmaceutics. Disturbances in peripheral circulation and in renal function are of great importance in case of the septic shock. Dopamine is highly advisable for its vascular and renal efficacy. Whereas the application of dobutamine or a therapy combining the application of dobutamine and dopamine has to be preferred in case of a cardiogenic shock. A retrospective examination has shown that the mortality of patients with a cardiogenic shock after an acute myocardial infarction could be lowered by a therapy of the current catecholamines dobutamine and dopamine.