Milrinone Versus Dobutamine in Critically Ill Patients

Patients will be initiated on Milrinone at 0.125 mcg/kg/min \[stage 1\] and will be titrated according to a blinded protocol from stages 2 to 5 \[0.250, 0.375, 0.5 and \>0.5 ug/kg/min\]. All orders to initiate and titrate the dose of the allocated inotrope will be written in the chart as follows: 'Study inotrope dose to be \[increased/decreased/maintained\] at stage \[1-5\]' so as to ensure that treating physicians remain blinded to the allocated drug.

Patients will be initiated on Dobutamine at 2.5 mcg/kg/min \[stage 1\] and will be titrated according to a blinded protocol from stages 2 to 5 \[5.0, 7.5, 10 and \>10 ug/kg/min\]. All orders to initiate and titrate the dose of the allocated inotrope will be written in the chart as follows: 'Study inotrope dose to be \[increased/decreased/maintained\] at stage \[1-5\]' so as to ensure that treating physicians remain blinded to the allocated drug.