Eight sheep, weighing 29-71 kg, were used to evaluate the cardiopulmonary response to
Hespan infusion following
shock. Before
shock was induced, mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), cardiac output (CO), extravascular lung water (EVLW),
colloid oncotic pressure (COP), and
hemoglobin were measured and shunt, arteriovenous
oxygen content difference (C[a - v]O2) and COP-PCWP gradient were calculated. The animals were bled to a MAP of 50 mmHg and that level was maintained for 30 min. At the end of that time, the data were collected again. The animals were resuscitated back to baseline values of PCWP, MAP, and CO with a 6% hydroxyethylstarch
solution. With
shock, PCWP, MAP, CO, and arterial pH decreased and C(a - v)O2 increased significantly (P less than 0.05). With
resuscitation, PAP, PCWP and CO were significantly greater than baseline. Arterial pH was less than the baseline value but was within normal range. MAP did not return to preshock levels. EVLW and venous admixture did not change at any time. C(a - v)O2 returned to baseline with
resuscitation. Volume of
hetastarch infused was 29.1 +/- 10 cm3/kg. We conclude that
hetastarch is an effective
resuscitation solution in a model of
hemorrhagic shock and appears to have no adverse cardiopulmonary effects.