The rise of blood sugar as an additional parameter in traumatic shock

Besides the known cardiovascular effects of hemorrhagic shock, regular metabolic consequences can be demonstrated in the rabbit: 1. The rise in blood sugar in hemorrhagic shock increases with the amount of blood withdrawn per unit of time. 2. The characteristic rise in blood sugar lasts longer than the phase of the partial exsanguination. 3. In traumatic shock, the rise in blood sugar indicates the degree of severity of the injury earlier than the fall in blood pressure does. The rise in blood sugar is attributable to a reflex increase in glycogenolysis due to catecholamine secretion elicited via baroreceptors in hemorrhagic shock. For the pronounced rise in blood sugar in traumatic shock, an additional receptor is postulated. Supplementary investigation of the blood sugar may possibly enable the extent of the injury to be diagnosed earlier in traumatic shock, and the negative sequelae may be reduced by timely, adequate therapy.