Corpus cavernosum as an emergency vascular access in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the feasibility of using the corpus cavernosum as an emergency vascular access in dogs with severe hypovolemia.


METHODS
Five male mongrel dogs were brought to hypovolemic shock by withdrawal of blood through an internal jugular venous line. Using the corpus cavernosum as a venous access, normal saline was injected through a 23-gauge needle at the highest possible rate. Cavernosography was performed under fluoroscopy to verify the accurate position of the needle tip. Blood volumes were measured using 125I-labeled human serum albumin.


RESULTS
Before the dogs were bled, their mean systolic blood pressure was 121.4 (mean) +/- 5.2 (standard error) mm Hg and their mean blood volume was 1,835.2 +/- 139.7 ml. The mean volume of blood removed from the dogs was 710.0 +/- 67.8 ml. The mean systolic pressure during shock was 40.8 +/- 2.2 mm Hg. After fluid resuscitation, the mean systolic pressure recovered to 114.6 +/- 4.6 mm Hg and their mean blood volume increased to 1,763.2 +/- 112.7 ml. The mean rate of saline infusion into the corpus cavernosum was 50.2 +/- 0.7 ml/min.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of using the corpus cavernosum as an alternative route for fluid resuscitation in severely hypovolemic dogs.
Stein
M
M
Department of Radiology, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento 95817, USA.
Gray
R
R
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001810:Blood Volume; D004285:Dogs; D004630:Emergencies; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply*; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*