THE RELATIVE VALUE OF VARIOUS FLUIDS IN REPLACEMENT OF BLOOD LOST BY HEMORRHAGE, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE VALUE OF GELATIN SOLUTIONS

Abstract

Procedures previously described for the measurement of bleeding volume were employed for obtaining an empirical comparison of various blood substitutes, the substitute fluids being given in place of the blood drawn for the first bleeding vol. measurement. The relative value of the fluid was estimated from the H2/H1 ratio obtained, where H2 and H1 are the 2d and the 1st bleeding vols., respectively. The 2d bleeding volume was measured 4 hrs. after the 1st. Approx. the same H2/H1 ratios were obtained when the replacement fluid was autotransfused heparinized blood, pooled heparinized blood, pooled heparinized plasma, and pooled serum. Somewhat lower values for the ratio were obtained when defibrinated blood, or gelatin solns. isotonic with plasma, were used. Much lower values were obtained when 0.9% NaCl soln. was used in replacement. Special gelatins prepared by incomplete heat-degradation of a high mol. wt. gelatin gave somewhat higher values than were obtained even with whole blood.