In a Canine Model of Septic Shock, Cardiomyopathy Occurs Independent of Catecholamine Surges and Cardiac Microvascular Ischemia.

Cardiac dysfunction during sepsis is not primarily due to elevated endogenous or exogenous catecholamines nor due to decreased microvascular perfusion-induced ischemia. However, epinephrine itself has potentially harmful long-lasting ischemic effects during sepsis including impaired cardiac microvascular perfusion that persists after stopping the infusion.