[Lactate level as an index of the severity of the condition in massive hemorrhage]

Dynamics of the lactate, pyruvate, organic acid concentrations and of the L/P ratio in the blood was studied in 22 patients with massive blood loss and in 13 experimental dogs during the terminal states (bloos loss equal to 50+/-5.3 ml/kg weight) and during the post-reanimation period. Comparison of clinical and experimental data gives reasons to believe that the maximum lactate increase (70--80 mg%) during the early restorative period after clinical death does not necessarily predict the lethal issue. Nevertheless, the critical level of blood lactic acid (if the clinical death had not as yet developed) could serve as a prognostic criterion. The long-term increase in the lactate level could also serve as an unfavourable prognosis.