Digital gangrene due to dopamine infusion- a case report

Abstract

Dopamine is a vasopressor agent for the treatment of shock and hypotension in patients whodo not respond to plasma volume expansion. Use of dopamine is associated with severeperipheral ischemia, particularly in patients in whom the peripheral circulation is alreadyimpaired. We describe a case of digital gangrene due to intravenous dopamine infusion in a45-year-old man who did not have any predisposing factor. The patient developed digitalgangrene within 24 hours of starting intravenous dopamine. Dopamine is one of thecommonly used vasopressor agents in the treatment of shock and hypotension and measuresshould be taken to detect the possibility of the development of gangrene based on thepredisposing factor and if gangrene occurs, immediate steps should be taken for managementof the reaction.