Current usage of dopamine in New Zealand Intensive Care Units

A nation-wide evaluation of dopamine usage in New Zealand Intensive Care Units (ICUs) was undertaken. Twenty-six public hospital ICUs participated. Twenty-two ICUs (85%) use dopamine as an inotrope. Seventeen ICUs use dopamine for presumed selective renal effects at least occasionally, but with wide...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Anaesthesia and intensive care 2001-12, Vol.29 (6), p.623-626
Main Author: MCHUGH, G. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Body Weight
Cardiotonic agents
Cardiotonic Agents - administration & dosage
Cardiotonic Agents - therapeutic use
Cardiovascular system
Dopamine - administration & dosage
Dopamine - therapeutic use
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Drug Utilization Review
Humans
Intensive Care Units - classification
Intensive Care Units - statistics & numerical data
Kidney - drug effects
Medical sciences
New Zealand
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Reference Standards
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Summary:A nation-wide evaluation of dopamine usage in New Zealand Intensive Care Units (ICUs) was undertaken. Twenty-six public hospital ICUs participated. Twenty-two ICUs (85%) use dopamine as an inotrope. Seventeen ICUs use dopamine for presumed selective renal effects at least occasionally, but with wide variation in what is considered to be "renal-dose". Level 3 ICUs were less likely to use "renal-dose" dopamine than levels 1 and 2 (P= 0.01). Nineteen units (83%) use weight-referenced (i.e., microg x kg(-1) x min(-1)) dopamine administration. Weight-referenced administration and "renal-dose" dopamine were likely to be in use together (P=0.02). Standard dopamine dilutions varied widely with a median of 2 mg x ml(-1) (range 0.4 to 8 mg x ml(-1)). Given a demonstrated association between weight-referenced administration and "renal-dose" dopamine, along with particular pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic reservations, the value of weight-referenced administration of dopamine in adult patients is questioned.
ISSN:0310-057X
1448-0271
DOI:10.1177/0310057x0102900612