Sublethal trauma model with systemic endotoxemia for the study of microcirculatory disorders after the second hit.

Background: Experimental models often cannot simulate the clinical situation in traumatized patients where the septic second hit finally leads to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and death. We present an experimental animal model combining initial standardized soft tissue trauma to the left hindlimb of rats with subsequent sublethal systemic endotoxemia.

Materials And Methods: This study characterizes the influence of trauma and systemic endotoxemia on nutritive blood flow, inflammatory cell-cell interaction and tissue cell integrity in the traumatized region.

Activated protein C reduces tissue hypoxia, inflammation, and apoptosis in traumatized skeletal muscle during endotoxemia.

Objective: Extensive surgical trauma leads to activation of the coagulation cascade and is often complicated by systemic inflammation and infection. Activated protein C, a natural coagulatory inhibitor, was recently shown to reduce mortality in septic patients. We herein report on the actions of activated protein C on skeletal muscle injury in experimental endotoxemia.