title: Isotonic saline resuscitation in uncontrolled hemorrhage under various anesthetic conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The authors evaluated the effect of early fluid resuscitation with isotonic saline (NaCl, 0.9%) on uncontrolled hemorrhage in rats under different anesthetic conditions. SUMMARY/BACKGROUND DATA: Recently, it has been suggested that administration of fluids to patients during uncontrolled hemorrhage may produce adverse effects, and a postponement of resuscitation until surgical control of bleeding was recommended. Past clinical trials were inconclusive, and the results of recent experimental studies were affected by use of vasoactive anesthetics.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: group 1--unanesthetized; group 2--anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital; and group 3--anesthetized with a mixture of droperidol and ketamine. Uncontrolled hemorrhage was initiated with a 75% tail resection, and each group was further subdivided into three subgroups for the following treatment: (A) no resuscitation; (B) 40 mL/kg of isotonic saline; or (C) 80 mL/kg of isotonic saline, administered 15 minutes after the initiation of hemorrhage. Blood loss volume and survival time were recorded, and animals were observed up to 360 minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At 6 hours, nonresuscitated animals of all groups exhibited the highest mortality rates (93%, 73%, 100% in groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Resuscitation significantly improved the survival; lowest mortality rates were observed after resuscitation with 80 mL/kg in groups 1 and 3 (33%) and 40 mL/kg in group 2 (40%). Fluid infusion increased hemorrhage rates in all anesthetized rats. No such increases in bleeding were observed in group 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Resuscitation with isotonic saline improved mortality in uncontrolled hemorrhage, even with concomitant increases in hemorrhage rates, under all three anesthetic conditions tested. Unanesthetized rats bled less than the animals under anesthesia and did not exhibit an increased blood loss in response to fluid infusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Soucy
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sindlinger
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Illner
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Shires
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012151:Resuscitation; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D012965:Sodium Chloride