Table 1

Characteristics of the study population (n = 55)

Characteristic
Vasoactive dose


High (n = 40)
Low (n = 15)

Gender (men:women)
19:21
7:8
Age (years)
68 ± 16
66 ± 15
APACHE II score
24 ± 7
16 ± 7
Number of organ failures
4 ± 2
2 ± 1
Patients on mechanical ventilation (%)
40 (100)
15 (100)
Patients with pulmonary artery catheter (%)
32 (80)
3 (20)
Patients with vasoactive drugs (%)
40 (100)
7 (47)
Patients with dopamine (%)
12 (30)
6 (40)
Patients with epinephrine (%)
12 (30)
0 (0)
Patients with norepinephrine (%)
16 (40)
1 (7)

Mignini et al. Critical Care 2006 10:R43   doi:10.1186/cc4852