title: Cortical and Medullary Tissue Perfusion and Oxygenation in Experimental Septic Acute Kidney Injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether there is a decrease in renal cortical or medullary perfusion and oxygenation in a conscious large animal model of hyperdynamic septic shock with acute kidney injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interventional animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-affiliated research institute.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight merino ewes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sheep were surgically instrumented with pulmonary and renal artery flow probes in the renal cortex and medulla, combination fiber-optic probes comprising a fluorescence optode to measure tissue PO2, and a laser-Doppler probe to assess tissue perfusion. Sepsis was induced by infusion of live Escherichia coli for 24 hours followed by 24-hour recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In unanesthetized normal sheep, resting levels of cortical and medullary tissue PO2 were 29.5 ± 4.4 and 29.1 ± 4.3 mm Hg, respectively. During infusion of E. coli, hyperdynamic sepsis developed with hypotension, tachycardia, increased cardiac output, increased renal blood flow, oliguria, decreased creatinine clearance, and increased serum creatinine. Renal oxygen delivery increased while renal oxygen consumption was unchanged. During sepsis, cortical tissue PO2 increased from 29.4 ± 4.3 to 36.3 ± 3.5 mm Hg (p < 0.001), whereas medullary oxygenation decreased from 29.6 ± 4.7 to 13.1 ± 2.7 mm Hg (p < 0.001). Cortical perfusion was not significantly changed, but medullary perfusion decreased (671 BPU [500-900 BPU] to 480 BPU [349-661 BPU]; geometric mean [95% CI]; p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a large animal model of hyperdynamic sepsis, renal hyperemia was associated with preserved cortical oxygenation and perfusion, but decreased medullary oxygenation and perfusion. Medullary hypoxia due to intrarenal blood flow redistribution may be one of the factors causing acute kidney injury in sepsis.
authors.affiliation: 1Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia. 2Department of Intensive Care, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia. 3Department of Medicine, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia. 4Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, AO Melegnano, PO Uboldo, Cernusco sul Naviglio, Italy. 5Department of Physiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia. 6Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Research Centre, School of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calzavacca
authors.forename: Roger G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Rinaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellomo
authors.forename: Clive N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: May
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005260:Female; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen