Changes in Circulating Plasma and Proteins Following Graded Transfusions in the Dog

Abstract

A series of dogs was anesthetized with a morphine-pentobarbital combination and the plasma volume measured with radioactive I131 and plasma protein by the method of Barbour and Hamilton. Blood was then transfused in 10 cc/kg increments up to a total of 50 cc/kg. After each 10 cc/kg of blood 20 minutes was allowed for equilibration and then plasma volume and protein were redetermined. No loss of plasma volume or protein occurred with a transfusion of 10 cc/kg, but the loss of both was statistically significant with 20 cc/kg. There was a progressive loss of both plasma volume and protein from the initial values with each additional increment of 10 cc/kg.