RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Patients with uncontrolled hemorrhage may benefit if resuscitation with large amounts of fluids is replaced by a small volume or vasopressor until surgery. Norepinephrine (NE) is commonly used as a vasopressor to control hypotension. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of hypertonic-hyperoncotic saline starch solution (HHS) either alone or combined with NE on brain tissue oxygen pressure (PbtO2) and brain oxygen saturation (rSO2) in a model of uncontrolled hemorrhage. METHODS: After approval of the animal investigation committee, 22 anesthetized pigs underwent simulated penetrating liver trauma. At hemodynamic decompensation, animals were randomly assigned to receive HHS (Hyperhaes; 4 mL/kg; n = 8) with normal saline placebo, low-dose NE (low NE; 500 microg, and 1 microg/kg/min; n = 7), or high-dose NE (high NE; 1,000 microg, and 1 microg/kg/min; n = 7). Bleeding was controlled manually 30 minutes after drug administration. RESULTS: Cerebral perfusion pressure (CePP), PbtO2, and rSO2 decreased with hemorrhage in all groups (baseline vs. decompensation, CePP-HHS, 83 +/- 5 mm Hg vs. 9 +/- 1 mm Hg; low NE, 67 +/- 6 mm Hg vs. 16 +/- 2 mm Hg; high NE, 77 +/- 7 mm Hg vs. 15 +/- 1 mm Hg. PbtO2-HHS, 100% vs. 29%; low NE, 100% vs. 33%; high NE, 100% vs. 27%. rSO2-HHS, 100% vs. 70%; low NE, 100% vs. 76%; high NE, 100% vs. 63%). Therapy with HHS, low NE, and high NE resulted in a comparable increase of CePP, PbtO2, and rSO2, respectively (5 minutes after therapy, CePP-HHS, 29 +/- 3 mm Hg; low NE, 27 +/- 3 mm Hg; high NE, 28 +/- 3 mm Hg. PbtO2-HHS, 207%; low NE, 129%; high NE, 170%. rSO2-HHS, 94%; low NE, 83%; high NE, 87%). Overall survival was six of eight, four of seven, and six of seven, respectively. CONCLUSION: After uncontrolled hemorrhagic shock, addition of different dosages of NE to HHS, compared with HHS alone, showed no beneficial effect on CePP, rSO2, or PbtO2.