• Beatriz Y Salazar Vázquez, C Makena Hightower, Judith Martini, Catalina Messmer, Barbara Frienesenecker, Pedro Corbels, Amy G Tsai, and Marcos Intaglietta.
• Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
• Crit. Care Med. 2011 Jun 1;39(6):1461-6.

ObjectiveTo compare survival after exchange transfusion followed by hemorrhage using: 1) the vasoactive, oxygen-carrying, bovine hemoglobin-based blood substitute Oxyglobin (Biopure, 12.9 g hemoglobin/dL); and 2) the hydroxyethyl starch plasma expander Hextend (high molecular weight and low degree of substitution, 6%).DesignComparison between treatments.SettingLaboratory.SubjectsAwake hamster chamber window model.InterventionsFifty percent blood volume exchange transfusion followed by a 60% hemorrhage over 1 hr, followed by 1 hr of observation. Measurement of blood gases, mean arterial blood pressure, functional capillary density, arteriolar and venular diameter, and Po2 tension distribution.Measurements And Main ResultsSurvival with Oxyglobin was 100% and only 50% for the Hextend group. Vasoconstriction was evident in the microcirculation. Mean arterial pressure was higher in the Oxyglobin group. Functional capillary density was significantly reduced, although to a lesser extent by Oxyglobin. There was no difference in microvascular Po2 distribution after 1 hr of shock between groups.ConclusionsHigher mean arterial pressure during the initial stages of hemorrhage could be due to vasoconstriction in the Oxyglobin group as compared to the Hextend group. It is concluded that the pressor effect due to a vasoactive oxygen carrier may be beneficial in maintaining perfusion in conditions of severe hemodilution followed by hypovolemia.

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