P=0.35). There were no major between-group differences
in the total amounts of fluid given, although
patients in the dopamine group received
more fluids on day 1 than did patients in the norepinephrine
group. Urine output was significantly
higher during the first 24 hours after randomization
among patients in the dopamine group than
among those in the norepinephrine group, but
this difference eventually disappeared, so that
the fluid balance was quite similar between the
two groups.
The increase in heart rate was greater in patients
treated with dopamine than in patients
treated with norepinephrine, up to 36 hours after
randomization; the changes in the cardiac index,
central venous pressure, venous oxygen saturation,
and lactate levels were similar in the two groups.