Dopexamine after heart surgery: An uncommonly used, though useful inotropic agent

Abstract

A great variety of inotropic agents with different effects on peripheral vascular resistance have been employed in the endeavor to treat heart failure after cardiac surgery. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and dobutamine belong to the first-line, widely used drugs recruited to support and improve ventricular performance, although none of these agents can be described as the one having the most beneficial results with the least possible side effects. Herein, we are presenting a thorough review of literature with patents dopexamine, a useful, although not widely used inotropic agent, which also reduces peripheral vascular resistance and has beneficial effects on splachnic blood flow when administered after heart surgery. © 2010 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.