Relation of Bacteria to the Failure of Blood-Volume Therapy in Traumatic Shock

Abstract

EVIDENCE is offered below that bacterial action may be responsible for the failure of blood-volume therapy in various types of traumatic shock, in which infection appears to be absent or of little consequence. For an appropriate orientation to this thesis the following statement of the terms on which it is based will be helpful.General ConsiderationsTraumatic shock is a state of acute and persisting deficiency of flow through the peripheral circulation that, if sufficiently severe and untreated, grows progressively worse and is rapidly fatal. In virtually all cases the clinical manifestations are as follows: low blood pressure, thready, rapid . . .