Effects of dopamine on liver blood flow in children with congenital heart disease

Background. A reduction in liver function is common after cardiac operations, particularly in children with preexisting cardiac failure. The etiology is multifactorial, but the redistribution of organ blood flow that occurs during cardiopulmonary bypass implicates ischemia as one of the principal causes of injury. Dopamine hydrochloride is known to have specific effects on the renal circulation, and the aim of this study was to investigate its effects on hepatic perfusion. Methods. Eight children with congenital heart disease were studied 6 hours after the end of cardiopulmonary bypass when they were fully rewarmed and hemodynamically stable. Using noninvasive auricular densitometry, we determined the percent disappearance rate of indocyanine green as an index of liver blood flow both before and 1 hour after commencing an infusion of dopamine at 4 μg · kg−1 · min−1. Results. Results showed an increase of approximately 31% in the percent disappearance rate of indocyanine green with the addition of low-dose dopamine (4 μg · kg−1 · min−1) (p < 0.01). Conclusions. Dopamine may have a therapeutic role in increasing hepatic perfusion and minimizing any loss in liver function.