Blood volume changes in liver and spleen during cardiogenic shock in dogs

Changes in vascular capacitance of the liver and spleen were studied in seven anesthetized dogs during cardiogenic shock induced by coronary microembolization. Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure increased from 2 +/- 2 to 28 +/- 4 mmHg (P less than 0.001), and mean aortic pressure decreased from 111 +/- 7 to 56 +/- 9 mmHg (P less than 0.001). Hepatic venous pressure increased from 1.8 +/- 0.6 to 5.0 +/- 1.0 mmHg (P less than 0.05). Portal venous pressure did not change. Blood volume changes were assessed from sonomicrometric measurements of organ diameters. Hepatic diameter increased after embolization, corresponding to an estimated 54 +/- 14 ml increase of hepatic blood volume (P less than 0.01). Splenic diameter gradually decreased during shock until an estimated 33 +/- 12 ml of blood had been released (P less than 0.05). Occlusion of hepatic venous outflow by a balloon catheter was used to cause ramp changes in hepatic volume and hepatic venous pressure so that a pressure-volume curve could be estimated. Analysis of the hepatic curves showed an increase in unstressed volume with no change in vascular compliance during shock. The blood volume increase could in part be attributed to increased outflow pressure, but active dilation of hepatic capacitance vessels probably contributed. Splenic curves were shifted downward, suggesting expulsion of blood by active contraction.