Cell, plasma and bleeding volume in the dog after rapid hemorrhage and reinfusion

Abstract

Cell, plasma volume, hematocrits, protein concentrations and bleeding volumes were recorded in control, overtransfused, hypo- and hyperthermic dogs. The animals were bled rapidly to approximately 0 mm Hg and reinfused three times with determinations between each successive hemorrhage. For the control group the bleeding volume in cubic centimeters per kilogram and percentage of blood volume decreased significantly with each successive bleeding. The dogs receiving a transfusion of 81 cc/kg of blood lost 22.8 cc/kg of plasma as a result of the overtransfusion. At the end of the final hemorrhage 6.3 cc/kg of cells and 14.4 cc/kg of additional plasma was unaccounted for and while the cc/kg bleeding volume increased markedly it represented the same portion of the blood volume (50%) as in the control group. Hypo- and hyperthermia did not produce a significant change in any of the parameters. However these groups did not tolerate the hemorrhages as well, the number of dogs dying increased with successive bleedings.