- Poster presentation
- Published:
Norepinephrine: more than blood pressure cosmetics?
Critical Care volume 13, Article number: P180 (2009)
Introduction
Norepinephrine (NE) is used to increase blood pressure (mean arterial pressure (MAP)) if hypotension arises. Increasing the perfusion pressure may increase blood flow in regions at risk. But vasoconstriction might worsen microcirculatory flow. We investigated the effects of NE on systemic, splanchnic and microcirculatory (microvascular blood flow (MBF)) blood flow in hypotensive pigs after major surgery.
Methods
Twenty-seven pigs (30 ± 3 kg) were anesthetized, ventilated and underwent laparotomy. They were randomized to one of the following treatments: Group Low received 3 ml/kg/hour Ringer's lactate (RL) throughout the study. Group H received hydroxyethyl starch (130/0.4) to maintain SvO2 ≥ 60%. Group NE received 3 ml/kg/hour RL and NE to increase blood pressure to 65 and to 75 mmHg to match the MAP of Group H. Systemic, splanchnic, MBF blood flow and intestinal tissue oxygen tension were measured.
Conclusion
NE increased MAP efficiently but had no beneficial effects on regional or MBF in the splanchnic region. This suggests that administration of vasopressors such as NE could be an unsafe way to maintain MAP because it may leave intestinal hypoperfusion undetected.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hiltebrand, L., Brandt, S., Kimberger, O. et al. Norepinephrine: more than blood pressure cosmetics?. Crit Care 13 (Suppl 1), P180 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1186/cc7344
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/cc7344