Intracortical distribution of renal blood flow in hemorrhagic shock in dogs.

Abstract

The effect of acute hypotensive hemorrhage on the intracortical distribution of renal blood flow was studied in anesthetized mongrel dogs with radioactive microspheres. In the early stages of shock, when carotid artery manipulation was avoided, outer cortical blood flow fell drastically and juxtamedullary flow was relatively well preserved. Carotid artery cannulation caused a redistribution of blood flow within the kidney even before hemorrhage, presumably by stimulating the carotid sinus reflex. Subsequently, with hemorrhage there was a parallel reduction in outer cortical and juxtamedullary blood flow. 138 Xe washout curves agreed with the microsphere findings. It was concluded that when the carotid artery was not disturbed, juxtamedullary blood flow was selectively preserved in the early stages of acute hypotensive hemorrhage.