THE PRODUCTION OF SHOCK BY THE PROLONGED CONTINUOUS INJECTION OF ADRENALIN IN UNANESTHETIZED DOGS

Abstract

In 13 expts. on unanesthetized dogs, vasoconstriction produced by the continuous intraven. inj. of adrenalin soln. (0.0034 to 0.0164 mg. per kg. per min.) for a period of 1-11/2 hrs. resulted in a decrease in plasma vol. and a state of shock. Continuous inj. of an equivalent amt. of normal saline for similar periods caused no change in the plasma vol. The calculation changes in plasma vol. from the deviation of the disappearance slope of the dye T-1824 during the production of shock is not satisfactory because the dye is not retained in the circulating blood. Post-mortem studies suggest that the fluid lost from the circulating blood in shock is distributed through the tissue spaces, and that some of it passes through the intestinal mucosa into the lumen of the digestive tract.