LOCAL FLUID LOSS IN TRAUMA

Abstract

-An accurate method was devised for the measurement of the swelling appearing in the traumatized limbs of the dog. Measurements of the swelling appearing within 1 hr. after trauma showed an avg. swelling which was 33% in excess of the change of the total blood vol. as measured by the injn. of the dye T-1824. This swelling was adequate to account for the measured reduction in blood vol. The swelling in untreated animals tends towards a maximum limit a few hrs. after trauma. The addition of fluid to the animal either by the absorption of water from the gut, or by intraven. saline, plasma or whole blood is accompanied by a further increase in swelling of the traumatized area. In fatal untreated cases the avg. swelling just after trauma was 4.1% and at death 4.8% of the total body wt.