Table 3

Clinical studies reporting effects of norepinephrine on splanchnic haemodynamics

Reference

n

Drug (μg/kg per min)

Splanchnic blood flow

pHi or PCO₂ gap

Comments

[44]

5

Norepinephrine NA versus phenylephrine 3.2

HSBF ↓

PCO₂ gap =

Switch from norepinephrine to phenylephrine

[11]

12

Epinephrine 0.7 ± 0.1 versus norepinephrine 1 ± 0.6 versus norepinephrine + dobutamine 1.1 ± 0.6 and 5

LD ↑ in mucosal blood flow with epinephrine and norepinephrine + dobutamine, as compared with norepinephrine alone

NA

Epinephrine, norepinephrine in random order to achieve MAP 70–80 mmHg

[46]

11

Epinephrine 0.3 ± 0.2

LD epinephrine ↑ mucosal

NA

11

versus norepinephrine + dobutamine 0.9 ± 0.4 and 5

blood flow

[45]

8

Epinephrine 0.48 ± 0.33 versus norepinephrine + dobutamine 0.37 ± 0.2 and 13.6 ± 3

HSBF ↓ with epinephrine

pHi ↓

Cross-over study

NA, not avalaible; HSBF, hepatosplanchnic blood flow determined by the indocyanin green (ICG) continuous infusion; LD, laser Doppler; MAP, mean arterial pressure; PCO₂ gap, gastric mucosal–arterial gradient of PCO₂; pHi, intramucosal pH.

Asfar et al. Critical Care 2004 8:170   doi:10.1186/cc2418