Vasopressin before fluids helps dogs in severe hemorrhagic shock

Abstract

In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that vasopressin administration prior to crystalloid resuscitation can be used to improve hemodynamic and oxygen delivery functions. Hemorrhagic shock was experimentally induced by maintaining mean arterial pressure at 60 mmHg for 30 min in sixteen healthy dogs weighing from 8 to 10.6 kg. Vasopressin was administered and then volume resuscitation was performed for the 6 dogs of V-C group, while vasopressin was administered at the end of volume resuscitation in the 5 dogs of C-V group. The control group (n=5) was administered 0.4 IU/kg of vasopressin after induction of shock without fluid resuscitation. In all groups, hemodynamic parameters were measured pre- and post-hemorrhage and for 60 min after fluid resuscitation. The dogs in V-C group had substantially increased systolic arterial pressure (SAP) for 60 min and improved pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), cardiac output (CO), oxygen delivery, and oxygen consumption indexes compared with C-V and control groups. Diastolic pressure and systemic vascular resistance was significantly lower in the V-C group than those in the C-V and control groups (P<0.05). In the V-C group, there was effective and rapid restoration of the SAP, CO, PCWP, and oxygen delivery parameters after treatment. This study indicates that vasopressin administration before crystalloid resuscitation is a more efficient way of improving hemodynamic and oxygen delivery functions in hemorrhagic shock in dogs.