The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 79, 103-108, Copyright © 1980 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Pharmacologic antagonism of beta adrenergic blockade in dogs. II. Hemodynamic effects of simultaneous intravenous infusion of isoproterenol and dopamine during chronic propranolol administration
HM Spotnitz, GJ Avery 2d, EA Rose, AI Benvenisty, JR Malm and BF Hoffman
Chronic beta adrenergic blockade was induced in eight dogs with 240 to 360
mg of oral propranolol dailty for 2 to 6 weeks. Beta blockade was confirmed
by a minimal heart rate response to isoproterenol, 0.06 micrograms/kg/min,
in a pentobarbital-anesthetized, open-chest preparation. Subsequent to
confirmation of beta blockade, hemodynamic effects of isoproterenol and
dopamine were examined individually and in combination. A desirable balance
of arterial pressure and cardiac output was achieved by combining
isoproterenol, 0.2 to 2.0 micrograms/kg/min, with dopamine, 5 to 20
micrograms/kg/min. This combination increased mean arterial pressure (109
+/- 9 versus 81 +/- 7), cardiac output (4.3 +/- .5 versus 2.8 +/- .3 L/min)
and heart rate 156 +/- 4 versus 120 +/- 7) (p less than 0.05). The
hemodynamic effects of combined isoproterenol-dopamine were superior to the
effects of either drug alone and suggest a method for effective circulatory
support of man during chronic beta adrenergic blockade.