Infusion of small volume of 7.5 per cent sodium chloride in 6.0 per cent dextran 70 for the treatment of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock.

The effect of a solution of 7.5 per cent sodium chloride in 6.0 percent dextran 70 was studied in a rat model of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock induced by partial resection of the tail of the rat. Fifty rats were randomly assorted into five groups of ten rats each. In group 1, uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock was induced by sharp resection of 10 per cent of the terminal portion of the tail of the rat. In group 2, uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock was treated with 5 milliliters per kilogram of 0.9 per cent sodium chloride. In group 3, uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock was treated with 5 milliliters per kilogram of 6 per cent dextran 70. In group 4, rats were treated with 5 milliliters per kilogram of 7.5 per cent sodium chloride, and in group 5, 5 milliliters per kilogram of 7.5 per cent sodium chloride in 6.0 per cent dextran 70 were infused. During the first five minutes, bleeding in rats in group 1 was 3.0 +/- 0.4 milliliters and the mean arterial pressure fell from 105 +/- 5 to 73 +/- 7 torr (p less than 0.001). In group 4, bleeding at 15, 30 and 60 minutes was 1.9 +/- 0.3 milliliters (p less than 0.02), 2.0 +/- 0.7 milliliters (p less than 0.04) and 2.4 +/- 1.1 milliliters (p less than 0.02), and in group 5, 2.5 +/- 0.6 milliliters (p less than 0.02), 2.2 +/- 0.6 milliliters (p less than 0.04) and 3.1 +/- 0.8 milliliters (p less than 0.04), respectively, compared with bleeding in group 1. Increased bleeding was followed by a fall in mean arterial pressure in groups 4 and 5 with a 60 per cent mortality rate (p less than 0.01) in both groups and respective, mean survival times of 135 +/- 29 and 144 +/- 26 minutes, which were significantly increased compared with group 1 (p less than 0.01 for both). The intravenous infusion of 6 per cent dextran 70 alone in group 3 resulted in delayed bleeding of 1.23 +/- 0.6 milliliters (p less than 0.04) after 180 minutes. It is concluded that infusions of small volume of 7.5 per cent sodium chloride or 7.5 per cent sodium chloride in 6.0 per cent dextran 70 solutions in rats in a state of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock led to increased bleeding, decrease in mean arterial pressure and increased mortality.