Suppression of centrineurogenic shock lung by Dilantin (DPH) administered early in established hemorrhagic shock

Centrineurogenic shock lung following acute hemorrhage was prevented by Dilantin (DPH) given preshock. Nineteen anemia (Hct = 30 +/- 5%) dogs were divided into five groups: one control (no anesthesia, no shock); one of three with 4 hours of anesthesia alone; and of 15 dogs with hemorrhagic shock, eight were without DPH, two with preshock DPH, and five received DPH 15 min after shock was established. Shock animals were rapidly bled to 40 mm Hg which was maintained for 2 hours, and all shed blood was reinfused. One hour later, all animals were sacrificed, the lungs fixed with formalin instilled at 15 cm H2O intratracheal pressure, the trachea cross-clamped, the lungs excised, photographed, and sent for gross and histopathologic study. Shock animals without DPH had grossly hemorrhagic lungs with diffuse interstitial and alveolar congestion, hemorrhage, and edema. Neither of the DPH-treated groups developed gross changes and showed minimal to no histopathology. Dilantin given early in established hemorrhagic shock prevents shock lung.