What is the correct dopamine infusion dosage range for bradycardia?

What is the correct dopamine infusion dosage range for bradycardia?

• A. 0.1-0.5 mcg/kg/min
• B. 1-3 mcg/kg/min
• C. 2-20 mcg/kg/min
• D. 50-100 mcg/kg/min

Answer: (C)

In symptomatic bradycardia, dopamine is used to boost heart rate and perfusion by acting on receptors in a dose-dependent way. At lower doses you get dopaminergic effects with little cardiac impact; as the dose increases you get beta-1 stimulation that raises heart rate and contractility; at even higher doses alpha effects cause vasoconstriction to raise blood pressure. For bradycardia, the typical infusion range is 2 to 20 mcg/kg/min, starting around 2 mcg/kg/min and titrating up to 20 to achieve adequate heart rate and perfusion. The smaller ranges are usually insufficient to improve perfusion in bradycardia, while the very high range carries a risk of excessive vasoconstriction.

In symptomatic bradycardia, dopamine is used to boost heart rate and perfusion by acting on receptors in a dose-dependent way. At lower doses you get dopaminergic effects with little cardiac impact; as the dose increases you get beta-1 stimulation that raises heart rate and contractility; at even higher doses alpha effects cause vasoconstriction to raise blood pressure. For bradycardia, the typical infusion range is 2 to 20 mcg/kg/min, starting around 2 mcg/kg/min and titrating up to 20 to achieve adequate heart rate and perfusion. The smaller ranges are usually insufficient to improve perfusion in bradycardia, while the very high range carries a risk of excessive vasoconstriction.