Effect of norepinephrine infusion on hepatic blood flow and its interaction with somatostatin: an observational cohort study.

Background: Norepinephrine (NE) is a α-adrenergic mediated vasopressor and a key player in the treatment of perioperative hypotension. Apart from modulating systemic hemodynamics, NE may also affect regional blood flow, such as the hepatic circulation, which contains a wide variety of adrenergic receptors. It may alter regional vascular tonus and hepatic blood flow (HBF) by reducing portal vein flow (PVF) or hepatic arterial flow (HAF).