Effect of the duration of preceding ischemia and the mass of ischemized tissue on the state of the clotting and anticlotting systems of the blood in tourniquet shock

Abstract

Experiments on 80 rabbits showed that inclusion of previously ischemized limbs in the circulation is accompanied by an increase in the clotting potential of the blood and by inhibition of fibrinolysis in the early stages after removal of the tourniquets, followed by hypocoagulation and activation of fibrinolysis. These changes depend on the duration and mass of the previously ischemized tissues. The authors consider that these disturbances in tourniquet shock lead either to the risk of intravascular thrombosis or to hypocoagulation followed by secondary fibrinolysis.