A blinded randomised, controlled trial comparing dopamine, noradrenaline, S-methylisothiourea sulphate and volume in a porcine model of endotoxin shock

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between levels of nitric oxide metabolites and the cardiovascular response to endotoxin shock; and to compare the effects of dopamine, noradrenaline and S-methylisothiourea sulphate (SMT), a relatively selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, on haemodynamics, oxygen transport, markers of global and regional perfusion and survival in an immature pig model of endotoxin shock. Design: Randomised, blinded laboratory study. Setting: Animal research laboratory in a university hospital. Subjects: Three- to four-week-old pigs. There were eight animals in each of four groups. Interventions: The animals were anaesthetised and ventilated. Periphera..