Continuous veno-venous haemofiltration attenuates myocardial mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes activity in porcine septic shock.

Increasing evidence indicates that mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in modulating the development of septic shock. In the present study, we investigated whether continuous veno-venous haemofiltration (CVVH) with high-volume might improve myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction in a porcine model of peritonitis-induced septic shock. Sixteen male Landrace pigs weighing 31 +/- 5 kg were randomly assigned to normal control group (n = 4), peritonitis group (n = 6) and peritonitis plus CVVH group (n = 6). All animals were anaesthetised and mechanically ventilated. After baseline examinations, the peritonitis group and the peritonitis plus CVVH group underwent induction of peritonitis. One hour later, the animals in the peritonitis plus CVVH group received treatment with high-volume CVVH. Twelve hours after treatment, the animals were sacrificed. Animals in the peritonitis group were killed 13 hours after induction of peritonitis. Peritonitis challenge induced septic shock associated with increased blood lactate and high-volume CVVH improved lactate acidosis. Compared with the peritonitis group, cardiac output, stroke volume and mean arterial pressure were better maintained in peritonitis plus CVVH group. More importantly, high-volume CVVH improved myocardial mitochondrial complex I activity (0.22 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.15 +/- 0.04, P = 0.04). These results suggest that high-volume CVVH improves haemodynamics and heart dysfunction in septic shock and the improvement may be attributed to amelioration of myocardial mitochondrial dysfunction.