The effect of hypovolaemia on colonic blood flow in the dog

The effects of a minor degree of hypovolaemia on colonic blood flow and on systemic haemodynamics have been studied in nine greyhound dogs. A loss in blood volume of 10 per cent over 20 min produced no change in blood pressure and only a 7 per cent rise in heart rate. Cardiac output, however, fell by 26 per cent and central venous pressure also fell significantly. Colonic blood flow fell by 28 per cent and oxygen availability by 29 per cent. All these changes were statistically highly significant. Retransfusion of shed blood resulted in a slow and incomplete return to pre-bleed status. Since colonic blood flow and oxygen availability during and after surgery may be important for colonic healing, it is suggested that even the slightest degree of hypovolaemia should be avoided in cases involving colonic anastomosis. Systemic blood pressure may be an inadequate index of the need for transfusion in these cases.