Effects of dobutamine, dopamine, phenylephrine and noradrenaline on systemic haemodynamics and intestinal perfusion in isoflurane anaesthetised horses.
Abstract: In the horse, effects of cardiovascular-active drugs on local perfusion of the gastrointestinal tract are poorly understood. Objective: To determine the effect of drugs commonly used to support blood pressure, on local intestinal blood flow and tissue oxygenation under isoflurane anaesthesia. Methods: In vivo randomised crossover experiment. Methods: Ten horses were anaesthetised with isoflurane. After 90 min of equilibration three doses (μg/kg bwt/min) of dobutamine (DOB 0.5/1/3), dopamine (DA 1/2/5), noradrenaline (NA 0.1/0.2/0.5) and phenylephrine (PHE 0.5/1/3) were infused for 15 min, in a randomised order, with a 45 min washout-period. Blood flow and tissue oxygenation (sO ) of jejunum, colon and stomach were measured using white light remission spectrophotometry and laser doppler flowmetry; heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO) were measured and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) calculated. Results: Compared to baseline high dose dobutamine significantly increased CO, HR, MAP (P<0.001) and blood flow to the jejunum (+47 ± 26%, P = 0.001) and colon (+29 ± 15%, P<0.001) (mean ± s.d.). Dopamine (DA5) increased CO but decreased colonic blood flow (-39 ± 21% from baseline, P<0.001), as well as SVR and MAP compared to baseline (P<0.001). Noradrenaline had no significant influence on intestinal perfusion, but increased MAP and SVR from baseline (P<0.001). Phenylephrine (PHE3) caused a significant decrease in blood flow and sO , most profoundly at the colon compared to baseline (flow -44 ± 21%; sO -16 ± 3%, P<0.001), while MAP and SVR increased and CO and HR decreased (P<0.001). Conclusions: The measurement technique only allows for flow measurements in arbitrary units, which can limit comparability to other techniques. Conclusions: At the investigated doses dobutamine improved systemic and peripheral haemodynamics, while dopamine decreased MAP and peripheral perfusion. Noradrenaline increased MAP and SVR while peripheral blood flow was maintained, phenylephrine increased MAP, but reduced both local and systemic perfusion.
© 2017 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2017-08-30 PubMed ID: 28710899DOI: 10.1111/evj.12721Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research investigates how commonly used cardiovascular drugs affect blood flow and tissue oxygenation in the gastrointestinal tract of horses anaesthetised with isoflurane. The study focused on dobutamine, dopamine, noradrenaline, and phenylephrine, revealing varied impacts on systemic and peripheral hemodynamics.
Methodology
- Ten horses were anaesthetised with isoflurane and subject to varying doses of dobutamine, dopamine, noradrenaline, and phenylephrine.
- Each dose administered was followed by a 45-minute washout period.
- To quantify the impact of these drugs on local intestinal blood flow and tissue oxygenation, white light remission spectrophotometry and laser doppler flowmetry were used to measure blood flow and tissue oxygenation levels in the jejunum, colon and stomach.
- Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, and cardiac output were tracked and systemic vascular resistance was calculated.
Results
- Dobutamine notably increased cardiac output, heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, and blood flow to the jejunum and colon.
- Dopamine increased cardiac output but decreased the blood flow in the colon and increased systemic vascular resistance and mean arterial pressure.
- Noradrenaline did not have a significant effect on intestinal perfusion, but did increase mean arterial blood pressure and systemic vascular resistance.
- Phenylephrine led to a noteworthy decrease in blood flow and tissue oxygenation, most significantly at the colon. Meanwhile, mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance increased, while cardiac output and heart rate decreased.
Conclusions
- The technique used for flow measurements in this study presents some limitations in terms of comparability to other techniques as it entails the use of arbitrary units.
- Dobutamine improved systemic and peripheral haemodynamics at the investigated doses, while dopamine decreased mean arterial pressure and peripheral perfusion.
- Despite increasing mean arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance, noradrenaline maintained peripheral blood flow, unlike phenylephrine which increased mean arterial pressure but reduced both local and systemic perfusion.
Cite This Article
APA
Dancker C, Hopster K, Rohn K, Kästner SB.
(2017).
Effects of dobutamine, dopamine, phenylephrine and noradrenaline on systemic haemodynamics and intestinal perfusion in isoflurane anaesthetised horses.
Equine Vet J, 50(1), 104-110.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12721 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
- Equine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
- Institute for Biometry and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
- Equine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
- Clinic for Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / administration & dosage
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / pharmacology
- Anesthesia, Inhalation / veterinary
- Anesthetics, Inhalation / administration & dosage
- Anesthetics, Inhalation / pharmacology
- Animals
- Cardiotonic Agents / administration & dosage
- Cardiotonic Agents / pharmacology
- Cross-Over Studies
- Dobutamine / administration & dosage
- Dobutamine / pharmacology
- Dopamine / administration & dosage
- Dopamine / pharmacology
- Female
- Hemodynamics / drug effects
- Horses / physiology
- Intestines / blood supply
- Isoflurane / administration & dosage
- Isoflurane / pharmacology
- Male
- Norepinephrine / administration & dosage
- Norepinephrine / pharmacology
- Phenylephrine / administration & dosage
- Phenylephrine / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Verhaar N, Kopp V, Pfarrer C, Neudeck S, König K, Rohn K, Kästner S. Alpha(2) Antagonist Vatinoxan Does Not Abolish the Preconditioning Effect of Dexmedetomidine on Experimental Ischaemia-Reperfusion Injury in the Equine Small Intestine. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 30;13(17).
- Brandly JE, Midon M, Douglas HF, Hopster K. Flow-controlled expiration reduces positive end-expiratory pressure requirement in dorsally recumbent, anesthetized horses. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1135452.
- Garcia Filho SG, de Andrade FSRM, Dos Santos RST, Gonçalves LA, Pereira MAA, de Souza AF, Ambrósio AM, Fantoni DT. Comparison of Hemodynamic Effects of Dobutamine and Ephedrine Infusions in Isoflurane-Anesthetized Horses. Vet Sci 2023 Apr 6;10(4).
- Diaz-Falcon N, Clark-Price S, Holland M, Johnson J, Lascola K. Ultrasound dilution cardiac output and echocardiography findings in anesthetized mature alpacas (Vicugna pacos) during normotension, hypotension and hypertension. PLoS One 2023;18(4):e0284299.
- Ruíz-López P, Morgaz J, Quirós-Carmona S, Navarrete-Calvo R, Domínguez JM, Gómez-Villamandos RJ, Granados MM. Parasympathetic Tone Changes in Anesthetized Horses after Surgical Stimulation, and Morphine, Ketamine, and Dobutamine Administration. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 15;12(8).
- Tucker L, Almeida D, Wendt-Hornickle E, Baldo CF, Allweiler S, Guedes AGP. Effect of 15° Reverse Trendelenburg Position on Arterial Oxygen Tension during Isoflurane Anesthesia in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 1;12(3).
- Matsuda H, Matsuda K, Muko R, Oikawa MA, Tanaka A. Short-term infusion of ultralow-dose dopamine in an adult horse with acute kidney injury: A case report. Vet Anim Sci 2021 Jun;12:100176.
- Qu MD, Zhang MY, Wang GM, Wang Z, Wang X. Intraoperative systemic vascular resistance is associated with postoperative nausea and vomiting after laparoscopic hysterectomy. World J Clin Cases 2020 Oct 26;8(20):4816-4825.
- Mirra A, Klopfenstein Bregger MD, Levionnois OL. Suspicion of Postanesthetic Femoral Paralysis of the Non-Dependent Limb in a Horse. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:12.
- Gorenberg EB, Slack J, Stefanovski D, Theiss D, Hopster K. Dobutamine improves haemodynamics and oxygen delivery in standing and isoflurane-anaesthetised horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1677-1689.
- Sauter PK, Steblaj B, Kästner SBR, Söbbeler FJ, Reiners JK, Kutter APN, Bautitsta AJG, Neudeck S. Changes in microcirculation variables in an acute endotoxaemic equine model. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1623-1634.
- Brito PHS, Ferreira MA, Rusch E, Arantes JA, Carregaro AB, Valadão CAA, Ghantous GF, Dória RGS. Anesthesia for non-obstetric surgery during late term pregnancy in mares. PLoS One 2024;19(11):e0313563.
- van Galen G, Divers TJ, Savage V, Schott HC 2nd, Siwinska N. ECEIM consensus statement on equine kidney disease. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Jul-Aug;38(4):2008-2025.
- Kieffer PJ, Williams JM, Shepard MK, Giguère S, Epstein KL. Effect of Hypotension and Dobutamine on Gastrointestinal Microcirculations of Healthy, Anesthetized Horses. Vet Sci 2024 Feb 19;11(2).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
