Peritoneal ventilation with oxygen improves outcome after hemorrhagic shock in rats

OBJECTIVEIn experimental pulmonary consolidation with hypoxemia in rabbits, peritoneal ventilation (PV) with 100% oxygen (PV-O2) improved Pao2. We hypothesized that PV-O2 could improve outcome after hemorrhagic shock (HS) with normal lungs, by mitigating dysoxia of the abdominal viscera. DESIGNRandomized, controlled, laboratory animal study. SETTINGUniversity animal research facility. SUBJECTIVEMale Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONSThirty rats under light anesthesia (N2O/oxygen plus halothane) and spontaneous breathing underwent blood withdrawal of 3 mL/100 g over 15 mins. After volume-controlled HS phase 1 of 60 mins, resuscitation phase 2 of 60 mins included infusion of shed blood and, if necessary, additional lactated Ringer’s solution intravenously to control normotension from 60 to 120 mins. This was followed by observation phase 3 for 7 days. We randomized three groups of ten rats eachgroup I received PV-O2, starting at 15 mins of HS at a rate of 40 inflations/min, and a peritoneal “tidal volume” of 6 mL, until the end of phase 2. Group II received the same PV with room air (PV-Air). Control group III was treated without PV. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTSDuring the second half of HS phase 1, mean arterial pressures were higher in the PV-O2 group I compared with the PV-Air group II and control group III (p < .05). All 30 rats survived the 120 mins of phases 1 and 2. Survival to 7 days was achieved by ten of ten rats in PV-O2 group I; by nine of ten in PV-Air group II; and by five of ten in control group III (p < .05 vs. group I; NS vs. group II). Survival times of