INTRAVENOUS INJECTIONS

Abstract

A progressive decline in the blood pressure, and secondary shock, were produced by continuous, gentle manipulation of the intestines of dogs anesthetized with Na barbital. The fluid which escaped from the peritoneal surface of the intestines had the same content of total protein as the remaining blood serum. The plasma volume diminished to 1/2 or less of the initial volume before death intervened, and the absolute amt. of protein in the entire circulation decreased proportionally. The % of protein of the remaining serum showed no change. When fluids, such as 0.9% NaCl, 6% and 20% glucose, 6% gum acacia in normal saline, and 6% gum acacia with 20% glucose in normal saline, were injected continuously intravenously at the rate of 10 cc. per hr. per kgm. body wt., there was the same profound loss of protein from the circulation; but there was a very marked diminution in the % of protein in the remaining blood serum. This did not occur when whole blood or blood serum was given. These experiments show that all of these fluids, except blood or blood serum, administered intravenously, leave the blood stream rapidly, carrying with them protein from the circulation. Since protein is the substance which maintains the active osmotic pressure of blood plasma and therefore the fluid content of the blood, these findings may possibly explain the clinical observation that the intravenous administration of these solutions in the treatment of secondary traumatic shock is often of little value, and sometimes harmful.