Splanchnic blood flow in the monkey during hemorrhagic shock

¹ Departments of Physiology and Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana

Blood flow in the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries was measured in nine Macaca monkeys during a standardized hemorrhagic shock procedure. Simultaneous pressures were obtained from the hepatic vein, portal vein, and aorta. Each animal was bled rapidly to an arterial pressure of 40 mm Hg and maintained at this level until 30% of the bled volume had spontaneously reinfused. The remaining blood was then rapidly reinfused and the animal observed until death. The results show a lack of overshoot of venous pressure on reinfusion, grossly pale intestines with some microscopic congestive changes, and a decrease in splanchnic conductance throughout the postinfusion period. Hepatic venous pressure exceeded portal pressure in six of the nine animals during the period of hemorrhage. The results are interpreted as indicative of insignificant splanchnic pooling during hemorrhagic shock in this animal.

Key Words: splanchnic resistance • primate shock • hepatic portal vein gradients

Submitted on June 15, 1964