Crystalloid and colloid resuscitation of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock following massive splenic injury.

Using a standardized massive splenic injury (MSI) model of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock we studied the effect of vigorous crystalloid or colloid fluid resuscitation on the hemodynamic response, and survival in rats. The value of massive fluid infusion in uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock following intra-abdominal solid organ injury is still controversial. The effect of crystalloid and colloid infusion was studied following massive splenic injury. The animals were randomized into six groups: group 1 (n = 8) sham-operated, group 2 (n = 12) MSI untreated, group 3 (n = 10) MSI treated with 41.5 mL/kg Ringer's lactate (large-volume Ringer's lactate, LVRL), group 4 (n = 14) MSI treated with 5 mL/kg 7.5% NaCl (hypertonic saline, HTS), group 5 (n = 10) MSI treated with 7.5 mL/kg hydroxyethyl starch (HES-7.5), and group 6 (n = 11) MSI treated with 15 mL/kg hydroxyethyl starch (HES-15). Following MSI mean arterial pressure (MAP) in untreated group 2 decreased from 109.1 +/- 4.5 to 49.8 +/- 9.6 mmHg (P < 0.001) in 60 min. Mean survival time was 132.1 +/- 18.7 min, and total blood loss was 30.2 +/- 4.1% of blood volume. LVRL infusion resulted in an early rise in MAP from 59.7 +/- 7.3 to 90.0 +/- 11.3 mmHg (P < 0.01), which then rapidly dropped to 11.7 +/- 4.5 mmHg (P < 0.001) after 60 min. The mean survival time was 82.5 +/- 18.2 min (P < 0.01), and total blood loss was 53.7 +/- 2.9% (P < 0.01). Total blood loss following HTS infusion was 32.2 +/- 4.0% and survival time was 127.9 +/- 19.7 min. HES-7.5 infusion only moderately increased bleeding to 44.2 +/- 3.9% (P < 0.05), but mortality remained unchanged. HES-15 infusion resulted in an increase in blood loss to 47.8 +/- 7.1% (0.01), survival time dropped to 100.7 +/- 12.3 min (P < 0.05). Vigorous large volume infusion of Ringer's lactate or HES following MSI resulted in a significant increase in intra-abdominal bleeding and shortened survival time compared to untreated, small volume HTS, or HES-7.5-treated animals. The hemodynamic response to crystalloid or colloid infusion in blunt abdominal trauma is primarily dependent on the severity of injury and the rate of fluid resuscitation.