Does dopamine administration in shock influence outcome?
OBJECTIVE: The optimal adrenergic support in shock is controversial. We investigated whether dopamine administration influences the outcome from shock. DESIGN: Cohort, multiple-center, observational study. SETTING: One hundred and ninety-eight European intensive care units. PATIENTS: All adult patients admitted to a participating intensive care unit between May 1 and May 15, 2002. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were followed up until death, until hospital discharge, or for 60 days. Shock was defined as hemodynamic compromise necessitating the administration of vasopressor catecholamines. Of 3,147 patients, 1,058 (33.6%) had shock at any time; 462 (14.7%) had septic shock. The intensive care unit mortality rate for shock was 38.3% and 47.4% for septic shock. Of patients in shock, 375 (35.4%) received dopamine (dopamine group) and 683 (64.6%) never received dopamine. Age, gender, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment s
