Rectal pH measurement in tracking cardiac performance in a hemorrhagic shock model.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the utility of rectal mucosal pH measurement for tracking cardiac performance in hemorrhagic shock as compared with gastric tonometry.


METHODS
Hemorrhagic shock was induced in five adult swine to a mean arterial pressure of 45-65 mm Hg. Hypotension was maintained for 30 minutes, resuscitation was accomplished with the shed blood and lactated Ringer's solution (3x blood volume). Gastric tonometry, rectal pH, and oxygen transport data were obtained at baseline, 0, and 30 minutes after onset of hypotension and after resuscitation.


RESULTS
Intramucosal pH readings from gastric tonometry and rectal mucosal pH both showed a significant change from baseline to 0 and 30 minutes after onset of hypotension. Data after resuscitation were found to be statistically the same as baseline values.


CONCLUSIONS
Rectal mucosal pH tracks cardiac performance as well as does gastric tonometry in hemorrhagic shock without as many limitations.
Chendrasekhar
A
A
Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26505, USA.
Pillai
S
S
Fagerli
J C
JC
Barringer
L S
LS
Dulaney
J
J
Timberlake
G A
GA
D000818:Animals; D002302:Cardiac Output; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012007:Rectum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012151:Resuscitation; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation; D013552:Swine