[Total blood exchange with circulatory arrest in deep hypothermia]

Total body wash out (hct less than 1%) with circulatory arrest of 30 to 60 minutes in deep hypothermia (esoph.temp. at 14 degrees C) was performed in 17 mongrel dogs by exchange against modified Ringer's Lactat-Solution. During rewarming the pump fluid was partly replaced by homologous packed red cells for readjustment of the hematocrit. After perfusion with a colloidfree perfusate all animals died under signs of massive interstitial edema. 8 out of 13 animals were long term survivors after exchange perfusion with colloid containing perfusate (dextran 60, 25 g/1). It has been demonstrated that a sanguineous circulatory arrest in deep hypothermia can be tolerated for 30 to 60 minutes if the formation of interstitial edema is prevented by use of an oncotically active perfusate.