Study hypothesis: In a model of near-fatal hemorrhage that incorporates a vascular injury, stepwise increases in blood pressure associated with aggressive crystalloid resuscitation will result in increased hemorrhage volume and mortality.
Design: This study used a swine model of potentially lethal hemorrhage in the presence of a vascular lesion to compare the effects of resuscitation with mean arterial pressures of 40, 60, and 80 mm Hg. Twenty-seven fully instrumented immature swine (14.8 to 20 kg), each with a surgical-steel aortotomy wire in place, were bled continuously from a femoral artery catheter to a mean arterial pressure of 30 mm Hg. At that point the aortotomy wire was pulled, producing a 4-mm aortic tear and uncontrolled intraperitoneal hemorrhage. When the animal's pulse pressure reached 5 mm Hg, the femoral artery hemorrhage was discontinued and resuscitation was begun.
Interventions: Saline infusion was begun at 6 mL/kg/min and continued as needed to maintain the following desired endpoints: group 1 (nine) to a mean arterial pressure of 40 mm Hg, group 2 (nine) to a mean arterial pressure of 60 mm Hg, and group 3 (nine) to a mean arterial pressure of 80 mm Hg. After 30 minutes or a total saline infusion of 90 mL/kg, the resuscitation fluid was changed to shed blood infused at 2 mL/kg/min as needed to maintain the desired mean arterial pressure or to a maximum volume of 24 mL/kg. Animals were observed for 60 minutes or until death.
Measurements and main results: Data were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance with a post hoc Tukey-Kramer, Fisher's exact test, and Kruskal-Wallis. Mortality was significantly greater in group 3 (78%) compared with either group 1 (11%; P = .008) or group 2 (22%; P = .028). Mean survival times were significantly shorter in group 3 (44 +/- 12 minutes) compared with either group 1 (58 +/- 6 minutes; P = .007) or group 2 (59 +/- 3 minutes; P = .006). The average intraperitoneal hemorrhage volumes were 13 +/- 14 mL/kg, 20 +/- 25 mL/kg, and 46 +/- 11 mL/kg for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (group 1 versus 2, P = .425; group 1 versus 3, P < .001; group 2 versus 3, P = .014). Group 2 animals demonstrated significantly greater oxygen deliveries compared with groups 1 and 3.
Conclusion: In a model of near-fatal hemorrhage with a vascular injury, attempts to restore blood pressure with crystalloid result in increased hemorrhage volume and markedly higher mortality.