Tissue red cell and plasma distribution changes due to irreversible hemorrhagic shock in dogs.

Abstract

SummaryExperiments were designed to define the relative changes in red-cell and plasma distribution in skin and muscle during irreversible hemorrhagic shock. The blood of anesthetized, splenectomized dogs was labeled with red cells-51Cr or albumin-131I. Radioactivity in muscle and paw, was monitored by a collimated scintillation probe. Following a one hour control period dogs were hemorrhaged to and maintained at 30 mm Hg mean pressure until 25% of the shed blood was taken up. The remainder was then reinfused. The peripheral beds studied showed marked decreases in red cell and plasma following hemorrhage. Muscle red cells and plasma rose to levels about midway to the control level during the late hypotensive period and then increased to or above the control level after reinfusion. Cutaneous red cells and plasma remained at the low level to the end of the hypotensive period and then increased somewhat following reinfusion. Accumulation of red cells and plasma occurs in muscle and since it is the largest bo...