[Intravital microscopy and post mortem histology of burn shock in rabbits (author's transl)]

This paper describes results of intravital microscopic observations of the mesenteric blood and lymph vessels of the rabbit. 20% of the surface of the skin of these rabbits were burned. Immediately after producing the shock, general unspecific symptoms were seen: decrease of circulatory flow, aggregates of erythrocytes. Specific alterations consisted in leukocyte sticking, platelet aggregation, hemolysis and stasis. Vascular spasm and hemorrhage were conspicuously absent. These microcirculatory features were compared with those of different forms of shock. There was a striking similarity with the characteristics of the burn shock with the endotoxin shock. On the other hand hemorrhagic and traumatic shock exhibited similar phenomena, thus forming a second distinct group of shock as seen from a microcirculatory point. Differentiation between the groups is only possible from the specific features of microcirculation failure. These results confirm the view point, that different forms of shock evoke different pathological reactions in the terminal vascular bed.