A nation-wide evaluation of dopamine usage in New Zealand Intensive Care Units (ICUs) was undertaken. Twenty-six public hospital ICUs participated. Twenty-two ICUs (85%) use dopamine as an inotrope. Seventeen ICUs use dopamine for presumed selective renal effects at least occasionally, but with wide variation in what is considered to be “renal-dose”. Level 3 ICUs were less likely to use “renal-dose” dopamine than levels 1 and 2 (P=0.01). Nineteen units (83%) use weight-referenced (i.e., μg.kg-1.min-1) dopamine administration. Weight-referenced administration and “renal-dose” dopamine were likely to be in use together (P=0.02). Standard dopamine dilutions varied widely with a median of 2 mg.ml-1 (range 0.4 to 8 mg.ml-1). Given a demonstrated association between weight-referenced administration and “renal-dose” dopamine, along with particular pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic reservations, the value of weight-referenced administration of dopamine in adult patients is questioned.
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