Hypovolemic shock and contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the pancreas.

The effect of profound hemorrhagic hypovolemia on cardiac output and pancreatic blood flow was studied in pigs with the thermodilution method and microsphere technique. Approximately 30-40% of the circulating blood volume was withdrawn slowly during 5 h. Cardiac output and pancreatic blood flow decreased by 35% and 32%, respectively. The animals underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) before hypovolemia and at 5 h after its onset. The changes in systemic and local blood flow were related to the contrast enhancement of the pancreas. In spite of profound hypovolemia and a significant decrease in pancreatic blood flow (p less than 0.005), the contrast enhancement remained normal. The results of the present study indicate that pancreatic hypoperfusion caused by hypovolemia does not affect the contrast enhancement of the pancreas in CT.