Hemodynamics in experimental endotoxin shock with continuous administration

Experimental endotoxin shock was induced with 4 mg/kg of purified endotoxin by continuous infusion instead of bolus injection in order to simulate the clinical condition. Abrupt decrease in the mean artery pressure and transient increase in the pulmonary artery pressure, which were usually seen in the initial stage accompanying the bolus injection of endotoxin, did not occur with continuous infusion. The superior mesenteric fraction rate of cardiac output (CO) in our study showed an increase, which was different from the small intestinal fraction rate of CO shown by Okada et al. by the micro-sphere method (MS method) accompanying the bolus injection of endotoxin. These effects might be caused by the difference in the injection method and endotoxin dose. Measurements of the cardiac output, common carotid artery flow, renal artery flow and superior mesenteric artery flow proved that the largest reduction was observed in the renal blood flow.