Oxygen consumption and recovery from surgical shock in rats: a comparison of the efficacy of different plasma substitutes

Shock was induced in 537 rats by exteriorization of the intestines and occlusion of the superior mesenteric circulation for 1 hour. After 1 hour of this intestinal ischemia shock, oxygen consumption ( O2) decreased to half of the preexperimental values. When no infusion was given, the survival rate at 24 hours was 22%; this was correlated with the degree of restoration of O2 at 1 hour after shock. O2 and survival rate improved with infusion of albumin, dextran 40, and dextran 70. With increasing doses of colloids, both O2 and survival rate increased; the optimal effect was at the dose of 2 g/kg body weight. When no other therapy was given, colloids at concentrations of 3.5 or 6% solutions had a better effect on survival than the 10% solution. Colloids were more effective than Ringerʼs acetate when the latter was given in the same volume and up to three times the volume of the colloids.