Ethanol added to resuscitation improves survival in an experimental model of hemorrhagic shock

Ethyl alcohol induces systemic vasodilation, decreases platelet aggregation, and inhibits neutrophil activation in vivo. Alcohol may thus be of potential benefit in resuscitation from shock by improving microcirculation. The purpose of this study was to test the effects of ethanol (ETOH) in resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock. Blood pressure, tissue pO2, white blood cell (WBC) and platelet adhesiveness, and survival were measured for 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats in a blinded and randomized study. Anesthetized animals were phlebotomized to 60 per cent of their blood volume, and maintained in shock for 45 minutes. Resuscitation was by continuous infusion of Lactated Ringers (LR) at 2 x shed blood volume over 1 hour. The experimental group received LR and ETOH (1.25 mL/kg). Control rats received LR and placebo. Mean arterial pressure was not significantly different, nor was WBC adhesiveness index different. However, postresuscitation platelet adhesiveness index was significantly higher in control rats than in ETOH rats. Postresuscitation total platelet arterial-venous difference was also greater in controls than in ETOH rats. Average tissue pO2 for ETOH rats (47 +/- 8.2 mm Hg) was significantly higher than controls (39.0 +/- 9.8 mm Hg) during resuscitation (P = 0.0001). Survival for ETOH rats (70%) was significantly higher than controls (20%) (P = 0.003). Our data suggests that ETOH added to resuscitation from shock improves survival by inhibiting platelet activation and increasing tissue perfusion.