Hepatic blood flow, cardiac output and splanchnic oxygen utilization in experimental hemorrhagic shock

Abstract

Recently, the hepatic circulation in hemorrhagic shock has been investigated by HEINEMANN, BRADLEY, SELKURT, FRANK and others. However, the opinions among the authors have not yet been in agreement but rather controversial, par icularly, as to the relationship between hepatic blood flow and cardiac output. HEINEMANN reported that hepatic blood flow fell sharply following hemorrhage and then returned spontaneously the control level in absence of the restoration of blood pressure. While, the others reported that hepatic blood flow did not recovered and remained in decreased level, having the same trend in blood pressure change. It seems likely that such a controversy will be partly due to the difference of the methods employed in measuring hepatic blood flow and partly to the confusion in recognizing the stage of shock, because the sequence of respective hemodynamic phenomenon is considerably different at the period of observation in this condition. The purpose of the present paper is to classify the relationship of hepatic blood flow and cardiac output throughout the entire course of hemorrhagic shock and its bearing on the irreversibility of shock. Oxygen utilization in the splanchnic viscera was also studied. The Relationship between Hepatic Blood Flow and Cardiac Output 1) Methods : Hepatic blood flow was measured by modified Frank's method. Twenty-two dogs ranging in weight from 8 to 20 kg were used and anesthetized with intravenous pentobarbital sodium of 25 mg/kg. A polyethylene catheter was passed through a right external jugular vein into the hepatic vein and then wedged into one of hepatic lobar veins. © 1964, The Japanese Circulation Society. All rights reserved.