Cardiovascular response to rapid infusion of lactated Ringer's

Cardiovascular response to rapid infusion of lactated Ringer's was investigated in 5 adult dogs (average body weight = 21.1 kg) under 1% halothane anesthesia. Following implantation of aortic flow probe and left atrial line, the chest was closed and splenectomy was performed prior to the experiment. Warmed lactated Ringer's was administered at five different infusion rates (2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ml/kg/min in random sequence) to each dog until left atrial pressure (LAP) reached 20 mmHg or a maximum of 50 ml/kg had been infused. Subsequent infusions were done after stroke volume (SV) spontaneously returned to the control level. Cardiac output (CO), SV, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), LAP and central venous pressure (CVP) were monitored simultaneously during infusions. HR was stable during infusions, whereas MAP increased by 39% of control. Response of LAP to volume infused was nearly linear at fast infusion rates (10, 15 and 20 ml/kg/min). Response of LAP to slow infusion rates (2.5 and 5 ml/kg/min) was curvilinear (decelerating curve). The relationship between CVP and volume infused was similar to LAP vs. volume infused. Ventricular function curves (SV, CO and stroke work vs. LAP) were also influenced by the rate of infusion with steeper curves at slow infusion rates than curves derived from fast infusion rates. However, initial changes in SV and CO curves were not significantly affected by the rate of infusion. We conclude that the cardiovascular response to rapid infusion of lactated Ringer's is rate dependent but initial changes in SV and CO curves are not significantly affected at infusion rates of 2.5, 5, 10, 15 or 20 ml/kg/min.