Prevention of portal hypertension and small bowel hemorrhage in dogs treated with verapamil during hemorrhagic shock.

Dogs subjected to hemorrhagic"shock" followed by infusion of shed blood develop portal hypertension and small bowel mucosal hemorrhage. Administration of verapamil during shock prevents both of these sequelae and prolongs survival. It is suggested that portal hypertension may exacerbate the mucosal hemorrhage and contribute to the earlier onset irreversibility.