Circulatory shock
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In 16 anesthetized pigs the cardiovascular effects of prostaglandin E1 and methylprednisolone (MPS) during E. coli sepsis were studied. Gated blood pool scans and hemodynamic studies were simultaneously performed. A control group, group I (n = 4), received volume loading alone; groups II, III, and IV received (each n = 4) volume loading after intravenous administration of MPS, prostaglandin E1, and both MPS and prostaglandin E1, respectively. ⋯ The present study indicates that in a porcine model of E. coli septic shock with acute pulmonary hypertension, prostaglandin E1 and MPS treatment decrease pulmonary vascular resistance but also systemic vascular resistance. Prior to and during volume loading right ventricular ejection fraction increased in the prostaglandin E1 group. However, neither prostaglandin E1 nor MPS improved right ventricular performance and forward flow during volume loading.
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Radiolabeled microspheres were employed to measure the cerebrovascular response to severe anaphylactic-induced hypotension in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. A rapid drop in mean arterial pressure (MAP, 140 to below 50 mm Hg) coincided with total and regional cerebral blood flows (CBF) that were not significantly different from prechallenge values. While blood flow to the occipital region (highest measured region of the brain) was significantly greater than that of brainstem regions prior to and during the shock regimen, no major redistributional phenomena occurred to any cerebral region. ⋯ Similar to our previous findings, CBF was maintained to perfusion pressures of 39 +/- 4 mm Hg. The drop in cerebral vascular resistance during the severe hypotensive period was not associated with a significant decline in arterial PO2, or a significant increase in arterial PCO2, A-V PO2, or V-A PCO2. Our results suggest that the fall in cerebral vascular resistance during anaphylactic-induced hypotension would not be associated with a severely altered cerebral metabolism.
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Glucose-insulin-potassium infused (GIK) during endotoxin shock causes increased cardiac output (CO) accompanied by decreased systemic vascular resistance. We have studied the effects of GIK on the distribution of cardiac output with radioactive microspheres to see if this decrease in resistance is equally distributed over all organs. GIK resulted in increased CO and increased flow to heart, splanchnic bed, kidneys, adrenals, and skeletal muscle, but fractional flow to these organs did not change. ⋯ Myocardial and splanchnic oxygen consumption did not change significantly. Oxygen extraction also diminished in these areas after GIK. GIK did not influence serum lactate: In both groups lactate increased significantly.
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Comparative Study
Prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 in septic shock: species differences.
Prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 have been implicated as mediators of septic shock. Correlations between the human prostanoid response to sepsis and experimental paradigms are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to compare changes in plasma levels of prostaglandin 6-keto-F1 alpha (PGI) and thromboxane B2 (TxB) during septic shock in Sprague-Dawley rats, domestic pigs, mongrel dogs, and man. ⋯ In man, both PGI and TxB were significantly increased in severe sepsis, compared to normal controls, but only PGI was significantly higher in septic shock versus normotensive sepsis. Patterns of change in TxB/PGI ratios were similar for all species studied. Changes in PGI in the porcine septic experiments most closely paralleled those observed clinically.