Surgical and Chemical Denervation of Abdominal Viscera in Irreversible Hemorrhagic Shock

Abstract

The role of the mesenteric sympathetic nervous system in experimental hemorrhagic shock was studied. Two groups of dogs were subjected to a postganglionic mesenteric sympathectomy and exposed to hemorrhagic shock 2 and 6 weeks after denervation. In another group of dogs, the same structures were infiltrated with 1 per cent novocain 30 to 45 minutes after the onset of the hemorrhagic shock. The survival rates and hemodynamic parameters were compared with a control group and with another series of animals that were pretreated with Dibenzylene. The denervation procedure provided protection similar to that of Dibenzylene except to a much lesser degree. Chemical blockage of the mesenteric sympathetic nerves after the onset of shock afforded no benefit at all. There is the suggestion that denervation of the mesenteric sympathetic system is effective only if performed prior to the onset of shock.