ADMINISTRATION OF SYNTHETIC CATECHOLAMINE PRAPARATIONS IN POSTOPERATIVE PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL CANCER

In postoperative patients with esophageal cancer synthetic catecholamine preparations were administered and the availavility was investigated by measuring postoperative respiration, hemodynamics, lung and renal functions.The preparations used were dobutamine (DOB) and dopamine (DOP). The patients were allocated to three groups, and DOB, DOP, or DOB mixed with DOP (MIX) was administered with a dose of 6 μg/kg/min, 6 μg/kg/min, or 3 μg/kg/min each, respectively untill the postoperative 4th day. Hemodynamics presented with cardiac failure type in an early postoperative period, then after the second day it revealed a hyperdynamic pattern. DOB was most excellent in hemodynamics and lung functions for two days after surgery. DOB was also slightly superior to. the others in renal function but showed no differences after the second day following surgery. Almost same patterns in the water-balance were seen among the 3 drug regimens. The use of DOB or DOP is, of course, useful to increase contractile force of the heart and to maintain tissue-perfusion pressure, but DOB is especially superior in the early stage immediately after surgery, and after the second day DOB, DOP, and MIX are equally available. We think that appropriate catecholamine regimen should be selected according to conditions to make the best use of their characteristics.