Thoracic epidural anesthesia with ropivacaine does not compromise the tolerance of acute normovolemic anemia in pigs.

Background: The initial treatment of an acute blood loss with acellular fluids leads to the dilution of the red cell mass remaining in the vasculature, that is, to acute normovolemic anemia. Whether the compensation and, thus, the tolerance of acute anemia, are affected by sympathetic block induced by thoracic epidural anesthesia has not yet been investigated.

Methods: Eighteen anesthetized and mechanically ventilated pigs were instrumented with thoracic epidural catheters and randomly assigned to receive an epidural injection of either 5-ml ropivacaine 0.

Improved short-term survival with polyethylene glycol modified hemoglobin liposomes in critical normovolemic anemia.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) modified formulation of liposome-encapsulated hemoglobin (LEH) as an oxygen-carrying blood substitute in the treatment of critical normovolemic anemia.

Design And Setting: Prospective, controlled, randomized experimental study in a university research facility.

Subjects: 14 anesthetized and mechanically ventilated beagle dogs.