Hypovolemia is a main factor behind disturbed perfusion and metabolism in the intestine during endotoxemia in cat

Critical evaluation of colon submucosal microdialysis in awake, mobile rats

Sensors able to record large bowel physiology and biochemistry in situ in awake rodents are lacking. Microdialysis is a mini-invasive technique that may be utilized to continuously deliver or recover low-molecular substances from various tissues. In this experiment we evaluated the feasibility of in vivo microdialysis to monitor extracellular fluid chemistry in the descending colon submucosa of conscious, freely moving rodents. Following surgical implantation of a microdialysis probe, male Wistar rats were housed in metabolic cages where they were analgized and clinically followed for four days with free access to standard diet and water. To assess local microcirculation and probe function, glucose, lactate, glucose-to-lactate ratio and urea clearance were determined in the dialysates from the three postoperative days with focus on the final 24-h period. In an attempt to mitigate the expected tissue inflammatory response, one group of animals had the catheters perfused with 5-aminosalicylic acid-enriched medium with final concentration 1 μmol/L. For verification of probe position and the assessment of the surrounding foreign body reaction, standard histological and immunohistochemical methods were employed. Microdialysis of rat gut is associated with considerable technical challenges that may lead to the loss of probe function and high drop-out rate. In this setting, limited data did not allow to draw any firm conclusion regarding local anti-inflammatory effectiveness of 5-aminosalicylic acid perfusion. Although intestinal microdialysis may be suitable for larger anesthetized animals, low reproducibility of the presented method compromises its routine experimental use in awake and freely moving small-sized rodents.

Hydroxyethyl starch: a review of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, current products, and potential clinical risks, benefits, and use

OBJECTIVE

To review and summarize the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of hydroxyethyl starch (HES), as well as reported risks and benefits of HES infusion, and to provide administration and monitoring recommendations for HES use in dogs and cats.

DATA SOURCES

Veterinary and human peer-reviewed medical literature, including scientific reviews, clinical and laboratory research articles, and authors' clinical experience.

SUMMARY

HES solutions are the most frequently used synthetic colloid plasma volume expanders in human and veterinary medicine. The majority of research in human medicine has focused on the adverse effects of HES infusion, with emphasis on acute kidney injury and coagulation derangements. The studies often differ in or fail to report factors, such as the type, amount, interval, and concentration of HES administered; the patient population studied; or concurrent fluids administered. Currently, there is no definitive clinical evidence that the reported adverse effects of HES use in human medicine occur in veterinary species. There is little information available on HES administration techniques or simultaneous administration of additional fluids in human and veterinary medicine. The rationale for HES use in small animals has been largely extrapolated from human medical studies and guidelines. A controlled approach to intravenous fluid resuscitation using crystalloid and HES volumes titrated to reach desired resuscitation end point parameters is outlined for small animal practitioners.

CONCLUSION

The extrapolation of data from human studies directly to small animals should be done with the knowledge that there may be species variations and different pharmacokinetics with different HES solutions. Veterinary reports indicate that bolus and continuous rate infusions of 6% hetastarch solutions at moderate doses are well tolerated in feline and canine subjects. Further research in domesticated species is necessary to better define and expand the knowledge regarding use of HES solutions in small animal medicine.

Hypometabolism and hypothermia in the rat model of endotoxic shock: independence of circulatory hypoxia

We tested the hypothesis that development of hypothermia instead of fever in endotoxic shock is consequential to hypoxia. Endotoxic shock was induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 500 μg kg(-1) i.v.) in rats at an ambient temperature of 22 °C. A β3-adrenergic agonist known to activate metabolic heat production, CL316,243, was employed to evaluate whether thermogenic capacity could be impaired by the fall in oxygen delivery (ḊO2) during endotoxic shock. This possibility was rejected as CL316,243 (0.15 mg kg(-1) i.v.) evoked similar rises in oxygen consumption (V̇O2) in the presence and absence of endotoxic shock. Next, to investigate whether a less severe form of circulatory hypoxia could be triggering hypothermia, the circulating volume of LPS-injected rats was expanded using 6% hetastarch with the intention of improving tissue perfusion and alleviating hypoxia. This intervention attenuated not only the fall in arterial pressure induced by LPS, but also the associated falls in V̇O2 and body temperature. These effects, however, occurred independently of hypoxia, as they were not accompanied by any detectable changes in NAD(+)/NADH ratios. Further experimentation revealed that even the earliest drops in cardiac output and ḊO2 during endotoxic shock did not precede the reduction in V̇O2 that brings about hypothermia. In fact, ḊO2 and V̇O2 fell in such a synchrony that the ḊO2/V̇O2 ratio remained unaffected. Only when hypothermia was prevented by exposure to a warm environment (30 °C) did an imbalance in the ḊO2/V̇O2 ratio become evident, and such an imbalance was associated with reductions in the renal and hypothalamic NAD(+)/NADH ratios. In conclusion, hypometabolism and hypothermia in endotoxic shock are not consequential to hypoxia but serve as a pre-emptive strategy to avoid hypoxia in this model.

Plasma volume expansion of 5% albumin, 4% gelatin, 6% HES 130/0.4, and normal saline under increased microvascular permeability in the rat

OBJECTIVE

To compare the colloids 5% albumin, 4% gelatin, and 6% HES 130/0.4 with one another and with normal saline regarding their plasma expanding effects at increased permeability and to compare the results with those from a previous study at normal permeability.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Prospective controlled randomized laboratory study in a university research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

48 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats.

INTERVENTIONS

Permeability was increased by an injection of 0.5 ml dextran 70 using the fact that dextran causes anaphylactic reaction in the rat. Plasma volume was determined ((125)I albumin tracer technique) after anesthesia, 1 h after dextran injection (before infusion for 10-15 min of 20 ml/kg bw of each of the colloids or 80 ml/kg saline), and 3 h later. Blood pressure, hematocrit, blood gases, and electrolytes were measured. CVP was measured in four rats.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Plasma volume was 41.1+/-1.9 ml/kg at baseline (n=9), and 29.1+/-4.1 ml/kg (n=35) 1 h after the dextran injection. Three hours after infusion of the plasma expander plasma volume had increased by 17.1+/-3.4 ml/kg in the albumin group, 7.9+/-3.6 ml/kg in the gelatin group, 7.4+/-4.4 ml/kg in the HES group, and 12.2+/-3.1 ml/kg in the saline group. It was unchanged in a control group given no solution (n=7 for all groups).

CONCLUSION

Albumin was a more effective plasma volume expander than gelatin or HES or saline (saline in 4 times larger volume). Gelatin and HES were equally effective. All solutions showed a smaller plasma expanding effect than observed in a previous study with normal permeability.

Plasma volume expansion and transcapillary fluid exchange in skeletal muscle of albumin, dextran, gelatin, hydroxyethyl starch, and saline after trauma in the cat*

OBJECTIVE

To compare 5% albumin, 6% dextran 70, 3.5% gelatin, 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4, and saline regarding their plasma volume expanding effect after a surgical skeletal muscle trauma and their simultaneous effects on transvascular fluid exchange in skeletal muscle.

DESIGN

Controlled, prospective, randomized laboratory study.

SETTING

University research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Thirty-six adult cats.

INTERVENTIONS

Systemic arterial pressure and tissue volume variations of and blood flow to a surgically isolated and autoperfused calf muscle placed in a plethysmograph were recorded. Arterial and venous pressures to the muscle were kept constant. After preparation, plasma volumes were determined by a I albumin tracer technique just before and 3 hrs after a bolus infusion of the plasma expander (25 mL/kg).

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Plasma volume was 20.9 +/- 2.9 mL/kg (n = 36) just before infusion of the plasma expander (normal plasma volume for the cat is 34-37 mL/kg). The remaining volume expansion of the infusion after 3 hrs was 6.8 mL/kg for albumin, 11.2 mL/kg for dextran, 1.8 mL/kg for gelatin, 2.2 mL/kg for hydroxyethyl starch, and 0.9 mL/kg for saline. Plasma volume decreased by 1.1 mL/kg when no solution was given (n = 6 per group). Colloid osmotic pressure was better preserved with dextran and albumin than with the other solutions. Albumin and dextran reduced muscle volume by absorption after 3 hrs, whereas the initial absorption turned to net filtration in the gelatin and hydroxyethyl starch groups. Saline infusion increased muscle volume by filtration for about 20 mins, followed by an approximately constant volume.

CONCLUSION

The relatively poor plasma expansion for all solutions analyzed can most likely be explained by increased transcapillary leakage due to increased microvascular permeability following trauma. Under such circumstances, for equal volumes, plasma expansion was better preserved with 6% dextran 70 than with 5% albumin, which was better than 3.5% gelatin, 6% hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4, and saline.

Gut luminal microdialysis of glycerol as a marker of intestinal ischemic injury and recovery

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate microdialysis as a method to assess different degrees of intestinal damage and recovery during ischemia and reperfusion; to evaluate information obtained from microdialysis catheters in the peritoneum, the gut wall, and the gut lumen.

DESIGN

Randomized, controlled animal experiment.

SETTING

University laboratory animal center.

SUBJECTS

Twenty-seven domestic pigs.

INTERVENTIONS

The superior mesenteric artery was cross-clamped for 60 mins (n = 14) or 120 mins (n = 10) followed by 2 or 4 hrs of reperfusion. Three pigs served as controls.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Intestinal mucosal integrity was assessed by morphometry, adenosine triphosphate in the gut wall, and permeability of C-polyethylene glycol. Lactate, glycerol, pyruvate, and glucose were measured by microdialysis. Changes in adenosine triphosphate, permeability, or lactate did not correlate to different extents of intestinal damage caused by 60 or 120 mins of ischemia. During the reperfusion period, pigs with 60 mins of intestinal ischemia showed a faster recovery of these variables than pigs with 120 mins of intestinal ischemia. Glycerol increased with increasing duration of the ischemic insult. After 60 mins of intestinal ischemia, glycerol in the gut lumen decreased toward baseline but remained high after 120 mins of intestinal ischemia. There was a good correlation between gut luminal glycerol and recovery of mucosal damage throughout the reperfusion period. In the peritoneal cavity, both glycerol and lactate decreased to baseline relatively shortly after onset of reperfusion independent of the duration of intestinal ischemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Microdialysis of glycerol provides information about the extent and severity of intestinal damage after ischemia and about the ensuing recovery. The gut lumen is to be preferred as a site for placement of microdialysis catheters.

Intestinale Perfusionsstörungen beim Intensivpatienten

Due to the bowel's poor tolerance of hypoxia, intestinal malperfusion presents as a grave disease with high mortality. The intensivist is confronted with this condition in association with other underlying diseases, in the course of surgery, during application of medication or associated with invasive therapy. In a critical care setting, the non-occlusive mesenteric ischemia (NOMI) is of increasing importance. Since critical care patients often lack clinical symptoms, special attention is required and one main factor of the patient's prognosis is early diagnosis. This review summarizes pathophysiology and diagnostic aspects and the range of therapeutic and preventive measures.

Gut barrier dysfunction as detected by intestinal luminal microdialysis

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of gut luminal microdialysis as a tool for monitoring ischaemic metabolites, particularly glycerol, as markers of intestinal dysfunction during and after intestinal ischaemia.

DESIGN

A randomised, controlled animal experiment.

SETTING

National laboratory animal centre.

INTERVENTIONS

In seven pigs the thoracic aorta was cross-clamped for 60 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion, while five pigs served as controls.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Glycerol, lactate and glucose in the intestinal lumen and mucosa were measured by microdialysis. Intestinal tissue blood flow was determined by means of colour-labelled microspheres. To assess intestinal permeability, (14)C-polyethylene glycol 4000 (PEG-4000) was instilled in a jejunal segment and then measured in venous blood. Intestinal blood flow was reduced to 10% of baseline by aortic cross-clamping ( p=0.001) and returned to baseline during reperfusion. Intestinal luminal lactate increased during ischaemia and further increased during reperfusion. The increase was paralleled by augmented intestinal permeability; there was a significant correlation between luminal lactate and venous PEG-4000 ( r=0.89, p<0.01). Aortic cross-clamping caused a marked increase in intestinal mucosal glycerol concentrations, which correlated with luminal glycerol during both ischaemia and reperfusion ( r=0.85, p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

Microdialysis of lactate may be useful for monitoring intestinal ischaemia and reperfusion. Release of lactate into the intestinal lumen appears to be related to increased permeability. Intestinal luminal glycerol closely mirrored glycerol concentrations in the intestinal wall.

Endotoxin increases both protein and fluid microvascular permeability in cat skeletal muscle

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate effects of lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) on protein and fluid permeability in a whole organ skeletal muscle preparation.

DESIGN

Controlled, prospective laboratory study.

SETTING

University research laboratory.

SUBJECTS

Eleven adult male cats.

INTERVENTIONS

The study was performed on the autoperfused and denervated calf muscles of the cat hindlimb placed in a fluid-filled plethysmograph. The endotoxin-induced change in the osmotic reflection coefficient for albumin was used as a measure of alteration in protein permeability of the microvascular wall, and the simultaneous change in capillary filtration coefficient was used as a measure of alteration in fluid permeability. Endotoxin as a bolus infusion (1 mg/kg iv) was given to six cats, and another five cats given only the vehicle (NaCl) were used as control.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Arterial blood flow, arterial and venous blood pressures, total vascular resistance, and tissue volume changes were measured continuously. The ratio between the osmotic reflection coefficients for albumin on two occasions (before and about 1.5 hr after endotoxin infusion) was calculated from the Starling fluid equilibrium equation. This was performed by measurement of the maximum absorption rate from an isovolumetric state by an intravenous bolus infusion of 20% human albumin (0.6 g/kg) and the capillary filtration coefficient. Albumin concentrations were measured before and after the albumin infusion to correct for effects of difference in plasma volume on the induced increase in colloid osmotic pressure. We found that the osmotic reflection coefficient for albumin was reduced by 30% (p <.05), and the capillary filtration coefficient was increased by 31% (p <.05) by endotoxin. No changes were seen in the vehicle experiments.

CONCLUSION

Endotoxin causes a significant increase in both protein and fluid microvascular wall permeability. These effects may explain the marked leakage of plasma to the interstitium that is often seen in critically ill patients with sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome.