Hepatic blood flow in experimental hemorrhagic shock

¹ Kirstein and Yamins Laboratories of Surgical Research, Beth Israel Hospital; and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

In dogs in hemorrhagic shock, the blood flow and oxygenation of the liver were measured with a catheter in a hepatic vein. There is a marked reduction in hepatic blood flow and oxygenation throughout hemorrhagic shock. There is transient improvement following blood replacement and additional transfusions. Arterial shunts into the portal vein may restore hepatic oxygenation to preshock levels. Norepinephrine does not increase hepatic blood flow even though arterial pressure is restored to normal. Dibenamine pretreatment sustains the hepatic flow to some extent during hypovolemia; antibiotic pretreated animals do not differ from controls.