Effects of hypertonic saline-dextran solution on regional blood flow and thrombogenicity in PTFE grafts in the vena cava of the rabbit.
OBJECTIVE
to study the effects of hypervolaemic haemodilution with hypertonic saline-dextran solution (HSD) on regional blood flow and thrombogenicity of small diameter polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts.


METHODS
blood flow in rabbit aorta, vena cava and femoral, renal and ear arteries was determined in five groups: controls, isovolaemic haemodilution with dextran-70 (10 ml/kg body weight (b.w. )), hypervolaemic haemodilution (10 ml/kg b.w.) with either dextran-70, 7.5% NaCl or a combination of dextran and NaCl (HSD). In a second series PTFE grafts were inserted into the vena cava of rabbits treated with hypervolaemic haemodilution with dextran, hypertonic saline or HSD and examined after two days.


RESULTS
blood flow increased in aorta, vena cava and femoral artery after haemodilution. The increase was transient in animals treated with hypertonic NaCl alone but sustained in the dextran-70 groups. The grafts from animals treated with hypertonic saline alone had a lower thrombus mass and higher blood flow compared to those from rabbits haemodiluted with dextran-70 only, indicating that both dextran and NaCl have antithrombotic effects. Superior results were obtained with HSD solution.


CONCLUSIONS
HSD solution has a strong flow-promoting action in several vascular beds and beneficial effects on the patency of small diameter vessel grafts.
Frost-Arner
L
L
Departments of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Experimental Research, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden.
Bergqvist
D
D
D000818:Animals; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D003911:Dextrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006438:Hemodilution; D008297:Male; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011817:Rabbits; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014684:Venae Cavae
D003911:Dextrans; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene