Effects of Different Fluid Regimes and Desmopressin on Uncontrolled Hemorrhage During Hypothermia in the Rat

• Resuscitation with large volumes of crystalloids during traumatic hemorrhagic shock might increase the mortality by inducing rebleeding. However, few studies have addressed this problem during hypothermic conditions. Sixty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to a standardized femoral artery injury and resuscitated with low (LRe), medium (MRe), or high (HRe) intensity using lactated Ringer's solution after being cooled to 30°C. An additional MRe group was also given desmopressin since this drug might reverse hypothermic-induced impairment of the primary hemostasis. The rats were rewarmed after 90 minutes and observed for 3 hours. The incidence, on-set time, duration, and volume of bleedings and hemodynamic changes were recorded. Rebleedings occurred in 60% of all animals and were more voluminous in the HRe group than in the LRe group ( p =0.01). The total rebleeding volume per animal increased with the rate of fluid administration ( r =0.50, p =0.01) and the duration of each rebleeding episode was longer in the HRe group than in the LRe group ( p <0.001). However, the mortality tended to be higher in the LRe group (LRe=6/15, MRe=1/15, HRe=2/15, p =0.07). Desmopressin did not change the bled volume or the mortality. Overall, the mortality increased if rebleeding occurred (10/35 rebleeders died vs. 1/25 nonrebleeders, p =0.015). Liberal fluid administration increased the rebleeding volume while a trend toward higher mortality was seen with the restrictive fluid program. Desmopressin had no effect on the studied parameters.

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Medical and Health Sciences  (hsv)

Medicin och hälsovetenskap  (hsv)