Continuous Fluid Resuscitation and Splenectomy for Treatment of Uncontrolled Hemorrhagic Shock after Massive Splenic Injury

BACKGROUND Using a standardized massive splenic injury (MSI) model of uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock, we studied the effect of continuous fluid resuscitation and splenectomy on the hemodynamic response and survival in rats. METHODS The animals were randomized into seven groupsgroup 1 (n = 8), sham-operated; group 2 (n = 8), MSI untreated; group 3 (n = 8), MSI treated with 7.5 mL/kg/h of 7.5% NaCl (hypertonic saline [HTS]) for 1 hour; group 4 (n = 8), MSI treated with 7.5 mL/kg/h hydroxyethyl starch (HES-7.5) for 1 hour; group 5 (n = 8) MSI treated with 35 mL/kg/h Ringer’s lactate (RL) solution (RL-35) for 1 hour; group 6 (n = 8) MSI treated with 70 mL/kg/h RL for 1 hour (RL-70); and group 7 (n = 8), MSI treated with 105 mL/kg/h RL for 1 hour (RL-105). In all MSI groups, splenectomy was performed 45 minutes after injury. RESULTS MSI in untreated group 2 resulted in a fall of mean arterial pressure from 105.9 ± 10.7 mm Hg to 27.0 ± 6.7 mm Hg (p < 0.001) in 60 minutes. Mean survival time after splenectomy in this group was 160.7 ± 29.7 minutes, and total blood loss was 34.8 ± 4.7% of blood volume. Continuous HTS infusion with splenectomy in group 3 was followed by a total blood loss of 38.7 ± 4.4% and mean survival time was 176.5 ± 23.2 minutes. HES-7.5 infusion and splenectomy was followed by a total blood loss of 39.6 ± 2.5% and survival time was 171.6 ± 19.5 minutes. Continuous infusion of increasing volumes of RL in groups 5, 6, and 7 was followed by increase in blood loss to 29.0 ± 4.1%, 50.2 ± 3.1% (p < 0.001), and 62.7 ± 7.1% (p < 0.002) of total blood volume, respectively. Mean survival time in groups 5, 6, and 7 was 233.5 ± 6.5 minutes (p < 0.04), 207.6 ± 17.0 minutes (p < 0.05), and 158 ± 26 minutes, respectively. CONCLUSION Continuous infusion of large-volume RL and splenectomy after massive splenic injury resulted in a significant increase in intra-abdominal bleeding and shortened survival time compared with small-volume RL infusion.