Effects of blood resuscitation versus dextran resuscitation after hemorrhage on intrinsic myocardial function.

Background: Myocardial function is altered by many factors present in hemorrhaged and resuscitated animals. The purpose of this study was to determine whether resuscitation after a short period of hemorrhagic shock, which by itself did not alter intrinsic cardiac function, causes dysfunction.

Methods: Guinea pigs were instrumented to measure blood pressure and cardiac output, and several days later 50% of their blood volume was removed at a rate of 1 mL/min. Some animals were resuscitated with the shed blood and some with 6% dextran. Hearts were studied 1 or 24 hours after resuscitation.

Results: Isolated hearts from animals after 1 hour of resuscitation demonstrated dysfunction whether resuscitated with blood or dextran, although dysfunction was more severe with blood resuscitation. By 24 hours, dysfunction was essentially reversed.

Conclusions: Resuscitation after hemorrhagic shock caused injury to the myocardium independent of the hemorrhage. Blood resuscitation resulted in greater dysfunction than did resuscitation with dextran.