Hemodynamic analysis of septic shock in thermal injury: treatment with dopamine.

Eleven burn patients were studied while in septic shock and during dopamine infusion. There was only one survivor. The shock state in septic burn patients is hyperdynamic with a marked increase in cardiac index but a significant loss of systemic vascular resistance. Dopamine infusion in low doses stimulated the heart by increasing the cardiac index but caused further vasodilation and exerted little beneficial effect on blood pressure. High doses of dopamine increased the systemic vascular resistance and the blood pressure to levels which more adequately perfused the kidney. Dopamine infusion in high doses will improve the septic patient's hemodynamic status. This may permit surgical treatment of the septic process to remove the cause of the shock state.