[Effect of Polygonum cuspidatum No 4 on the enhancement of cardiac function during burn shock]

A burn shock model was produced in rats by scalding the lumbus and lower extremities with 80 degrees C water for 30 seconds. The variable of cardiac functions were measured with a Cardiac-II-R cardio-output computer. It was shown that heart functions decreased as early as 10 min following scalding. Cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), and stroke volume index (SVI) were reduced by 40% of normal, and stroke work (SW) by 47%. With the decrease of CO, total peripheral resistance (TPR) increased. Two hour later TPR was increased 2.6-fold more than pre-burn level, which made BP maintain nearly normal. TPR started to reduce at 3 hr post-burn, resulting in decrease of BP. The decreased heart function returned to near normal by administration of crystal of Polygonum cuspidatum No 4 (p.c), e.g, CO and CI were increased to 91.0% of pre-burn value, SW to 100.1%, and SVI to 102.0%. The increased TPR was reduced to near normal. Half of p.c.-treated animals survived within 24 hr, but all of simple burn animals and n.s.-treated animals died within 24 hr. Under the condition of no fluid infusion, administration of p.c. could restore the decreased heart function, which showed that besides loss of plasma, direct myocardial depression was one of the reason for the decrease of cardiac output during burn shock. The survival rate of animals with burn shock was enhanced by injection of p.c., which indicated that increasing heart function was a very important measure for the treatment of burn shock.