The effects of severe progressive hemodilution on regional blood flow and oxygen consumption.

Electrolyte solutions are effective in the immediate treatment of hemorrhagic shock, but the acceptable limits of hemodilution are not well defined. In this study oxygen consumption was measured in various tissues at rest and in maximally exercising skeletal muscle during progressive hemodilution. Twenty splenectomized, anesthetized dogs were studied (weight 22.6 +/- 2.0 kilograms). Measurements were made of cardiac output, capillary muscle blood flow in the hind limb, and renal and superior mesenteric arterial blood flow. Arteriovenous oxygen differences in the hind limb, kidney, gut, and in the whole body were calculated from the oxygen content of arterial and appropriate venous samples.