Efficacy of resuscitative infusion with hemoglobin vesicles in rabbits with massive obstetric hemorrhage

Hemoglobin vesicles have been developed as artificial oxygen carriers, and they have the potential to serve as a substitute for red blood cell transfusion.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hemoglobin vesicle infusion for the initial treatment instead of red blood cell transfusion in rabbits with massive obstetric hemorrhage.

Pregnant New Zealand white rabbits (28th day of pregnancy; normal gestation period, 29-35 days) underwent uncontrolled hemorrhage to induce shock by transecting the right midartery and concomitant vein in the myometrium. Subsequently, rabbits received isovolemic fluid resuscitation through the femoral vein with an equivalent volume of hemorrhage every 5 minutes. Resuscitative infusion regimens included 5% human serum albumin (n=6), stored washed red blood cells with plasma (vol/vol=1:1; n=5), and hemoglobin vesicle with 5% human serum albumin (vol/vol=4:1; n=5). A total of 60 minutes after the start of bleeding, rabbits underwent surgical hemostasis by ligation of the bleeding vessels and then were monitored for survival within 24 hours.

During fluid resuscitation, hemoglobin vesicle infusion and red blood cell transfusion maintained a mean arterial pressure of >50 mm Hg and a hemoglobin concentration of >9 g/dL and prevented the elevation of plasma lactate. In contrast, resuscitation with 5% human serum albumin alone could not prevent hemorrhagic shock as evidenced by a low mean arterial pressure (40 mm Hg), a low hemoglobin concentration (2 g/dL), and a marked elevation of plasma lactate. All animals in the red blood cell group and the hemoglobin vesicle group survived more than 8 hours, whereas all animals in the 5% human serum albumin group died within 8 hours.

Hemoglobin vesicle infusion may be effective in the initial management of massive obstetric hemorrhage.