Microcirculation and blood volume in rats before and after spinal cord injury.

Blood flow, cardiac output, blood pressure, indicator mixing time and blood volume were measured in rats before and after spinal cord injury. After cutting off the spinal cord blood flow decreases markedly in the paraplegic area but also in the main organs of the animals. Only the blood supply of the lung increases by this manipulation. As blood volume and the blood pressure is decreased and the indicator mixing time delayed the situation of the spinal cord injury can be compared with the situation after acute blood loss. Therefore it is proposed to include circulatory disturbances into the conception of the acute spinal shock situation.