Fenoldopamin in cardiac surgery

Fenoldopam mesylate is a useful antihypertensive and diuretic drug. In this review, we examine the evidence based medicine wheter to use fenoldopam in cardiac surgery patients and/or in critically ill patients with or at risk for acute renal failure (ARF). We conclude that from published studies it seems that fenoldopam could be beneficial if a prolonged infusion is performed starting early in the process of ARF in critically ill patients. Unfortunately there is still virtually no definitive evidence of efficacy, especially in cardiac surgery patients. A large, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial (RCT) is needed to confirm the promising but conflicting findings of this drug. © 2007 Springer Medizin Verlag.