Skeletal muscle PO2: indicator of peripheral tissue perfusion in haemorrhagic shock.

The following conclusions can be made on the basis of this work: 1) Measurements of skeletal muscle oxygen tension provide an excellent index of tissue perfusion in haemorrhagic shock. 2) Correction of cardiac output and arterial blood oxygen tension in haemorrhagic shock does not necessarily ensure normal tissue oxygenation. 3) In haemorrhagic shock adequate replacement of blood loss using a balanced salt solution in addition to blood replacement is an integral part of the fluid management. 4) Correction of hypovolemia with an equivalent volume of a plasma expander and subsequent reinfusion of shed blood also returns tissue perfusion to normal. However, this treatment results in marked haemodilution and correction of extracellular fluid loss remains inadequate.