Tissue PO2 during reanimation with hemoglobin solutions.

Solutions of conventional stoma-free hemoglobin (SFH) and of pyridoxylated stoma-free hemoglobin (SFH-PLP) were compared in a dog model of reanimation from severe arterial blood loss. SFH and SFH-PLP restored central hemodynamics after infusion without yielding significant differences between the experimental groups. To cope with the developing hypovolemia, Ringer's lactate load amounted to about 120 ml/kg, edema formation was not encountered. Skeletal muscle oxygenation was studied by means of a multiwire platin electrode. The infusion of SFH-PLP was associated with a shift to the right of the cumulative PO2-distribution curve, indicating better tissue oxygenation. Oxygen was not unloaded from SFH in plasma unless the oxygen extraction from red cell hemoglobin exceeded 40%. Oxygen unloading was, however, improved when SFH-PLP with low oxygen affinity was used. Thus, SFH-PLP merits further consideration as a short-term oxygen-carrying blood substitute.