Effects of dobutamine, norepinephrine, and vasopressin on cardiovascular function in anesthetized neonatal foals with induced hypotension.
Abstract: To determine the effects of dobutamine, norepinephrine, and vasopressin on cardiovascular function and gastric mucosal perfusion in anesthetized foals during isoflurane-induced hypotension. Methods: 6 foals that were 1 to 5 days of age. Methods: 6 foals received 3 vasoactive drugs with at least 24 hours between treatments. Treatments consisted of dobutamine (4 and 8 Sang/kg/min), norepinephrine (0.3 and 1.0 Sang/kg/min), and vasopressin (0.3 and 1.0 mU/kg/min) administered IV. Foals were maintained at a steady hypotensive state induced by a deep level of isoflurane anesthesia for 30 minutes, and baseline cardiorespiratory variables were recorded. Vasoactive drugs were administered at the low infusion rate for 15 minutes, and cardiorespiratory variables were recorded. Drugs were then administered at the high infusion rate for 15 minutes, and cardiorespiratory variables were recorded a third time. Gastric mucosal perfusion was measured by tonometry at the same time points. Results: Dobutamine and norepinephrine administration improved cardiac index. Vascular resistance was increased by norepinephrine and vasopressin administration but decreased by dobutamine at the high infusion rate. Blood pressure was increased by all treatments but was significantly higher during the high infusion rate of norepinephrine. Oxygen delivery was significantly increased by norepinephrine and dobutamine administration; O2 consumption decreased with dobutamine. The O2 extraction ratio was decreased following norepinephrine and dobutamine treatments. The gastric to arterial CO2 gap was significantly increased during administration of vasopressin at the high infusion rate. Conclusions: Norepinephrine and dobutamine are better alternatives than vasopressin for restoring cardiovascular function and maintaining splanchnic circulation during isoflurane-induced hypotension in neonatal foals.
Publication Date: 2006-10-04 PubMed ID: 17014324DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.67.10.1730Google 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.
- Clinical Trial
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 paper investigates the effects of three different drugs – dobutamine, norepinephrine, and vasopressin – on cardiovascular function and blood circulation to the stomach’s lining in anesthetized young foals under isoflurane-induced low blood pressure.
Research Method
- In this study, the researchers used six newborn foals aged between 1 to 5 days. These foals were tested with three types of vasoactive drugs – dobutamine, norepinephrine, and vasopressin. Each foal was treated with these drugs with at least a 24 hour gap between treatments.
- Each of these drugs was administered intravenously in two different dosages – a lower and a higher rate. The foals were then kept in a hypotensive state (low blood pressure) for 30 minutes via a deep level of isoflurane anesthesia and their baseline cardiorespiratory (heart/lung) factors were recorded.
- Then the vasoactive drugs were given at the lower rate for 15 minutes and their cardiorespiratory variables were documented again. This was repeated at the higher infusion rate for 15 minutes, and these variables were recorded one more time. Concurrently, the blood flow to the stomach lining was measured through the process of tonometry at the same time intervals.
Research Findings
- The researchers found that both dobutamine and norepinephrine improved cardiac index, which is a measure of heart function. Norepinephrine and vasopressin increased vascular resistance, which means blood vessels constrict to cause an increase in blood pressure. Dobutamine, however, reduced vascular resistance at its higher dosage.
- Interestingly, all three drugs did raise the blood pressure, but norepinephrine yielded a significantly higher result when given at maximum dosage.
- Oxygen supply was notably increased by norepinephrine and dobutamine treatment, while oxygen consumption was reduced with dobutamine. Consequently, the oxygen extraction ratio (the ratio of oxygen consumed to oxygen delivered) was lowered after administration of norepinephrine and dobutamine.
- Another notable outcome was that the difference in carbon dioxide levels between the stomach and the arteries increased significantly during the higher dosage of vasopressin. An increased CO2 gap can indicate reduced blood flow to the stomach’s lining.
Conclusion
- Based on the results, norepinephrine and dobutamine were found to be better choices than vasopressin for reviving cardiovascular function and sustaining blood flow to the splanchnic (abdominal) circulation during isoflurane-induced low blood pressure in neonatal foals.
Cite This Article
APA
Valverde A, Giguère S, Sanchez LC, Shih A, Ryan C.
(2006).
Effects of dobutamine, norepinephrine, and vasopressin on cardiovascular function in anesthetized neonatal foals with induced hypotension.
Am J Vet Res, 67(10), 1730-1737.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.67.10.1730 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Anesthetics, Inhalation / pharmacology
- Animals
- Blood Pressure / drug effects
- Dobutamine / administration & dosage
- Dobutamine / pharmacology
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Female
- Gastric Mucosa / blood supply
- Gastric Mucosa / drug effects
- Heart Rate / drug effects
- Horses / metabolism
- Hypotension / chemically induced
- Isoflurane / pharmacology
- Male
- Norepinephrine / administration & dosage
- Norepinephrine / pharmacology
- Sympathomimetics / administration & dosage
- Sympathomimetics / pharmacology
- Vasoconstrictor Agents / administration & dosage
- Vasoconstrictor Agents / pharmacology
- Vasopressins / administration & dosage
- Vasopressins / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Elder E, Wong D, Johnson K, Robertson H, Marner M, Dembek K. Assessment of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis function using a vasopressin stimulation test in neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Sep-Oct;37(5):1881-1888.
- Paranjape VV, Henao-Guerrero N, Menciotti G, Saksena S, Agostinho M. Agreement between Electrical Cardiometry and Pulmonary Artery Thermodilution for Measuring Cardiac Output in Isoflurane-Anesthetized Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 21;13(8).
- Valverde A. Fluid Resuscitation for Refractory Hypotension. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:621696.
- Soares PCLR, Corrêa JMX, Niella RV, de Oliveira JNS, Costa BA, Silva Junior AC, Sena AS, Pinto TM, Munhoz AD, Martins LAF, Silva EB, Lavor MSL. Continuous Infusion of Ketamine and Lidocaine Either with or without Maropitant as an Adjuvant Agent for Analgesia in Female Dogs Undergoing Mastectomy. Vet Med Int 2021;2021:4747301.
- Scott J, Singh A, Valverde A. Pneumoperitoneum in Veterinary Laparoscopy: A Review. Vet Sci 2020 May 12;7(2).
- Skelding A, Valverde A. Non-invasive blood pressure measurement in animals: Part 1 - Techniques for measurement and validation of non-invasive devices. Can Vet J 2020 Apr;61(4):368-374.
- Mielgo V, Valls i Soler A, Rey-Santano C. Dobutamine in paediatric population: a systematic review in juvenile animal models. PLoS One 2014;9(4):e95644.
- Pequito M, Amory H, de Moffarts B, Busoni V, Serteyn D, Sandersen C. Evaluation of acepromazine-induced hemodynamic alterations and reversal with norepinephrine infusion in standing horses. Can Vet J 2013 Feb;54(2):150-6.
- Valverde A, Gianotti G, Rioja-Garcia E, Hathway A. Effects of high-volume, rapid-fluid therapy on cardiovascular function and hematological values during isoflurane-induced hypotension in healthy dogs. Can J Vet Res 2012 Apr;76(2):99-108.
- Wilkins PA, Wong D, Slovis NM, Collins N, Barr BS, MacKenzie C, De Solis CN, Castagnetti C, Mariella J, Burns T, Perkins G, Delvescovo B, Sanchez LC, Kemper AM, Magdesian KG, Bedenice D, Taylor SD, Gold J, Dunkel B, Pranzo G, Constable PD. The Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome and Predictors of Infection and Mortality in 1068 Critically Ill Newborn Foals. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70004.
- Chen S, Luo F, Lin Y, Yu G, Luo J, Xu J. Effect of intravenous low-dose norepinephrine on blood loss in non-tourniquet total knee arthroplasty under general anesthesia: a randomized, double-blind, controlled, single-center trial. J Orthop Surg Res 2023 Dec 7;18(1):933.
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
