Experimental study of extracorporeal perfusion for septic shock

The authors evaluated the efficacy of treatment by extracorporeal perfusion on experimental canine septic shock. Canine septic shock was produced by intravenous infusion of Escherichia coli endotoxin and treated by three techniques: no treatment (Sham), hemoperfusion over Polymyxin B immobilized fiber (PMX), and plasma perfusion over anion exchange resin (Resin). The 24 hr survival rates of the Sham, PMX, and Resin groups were 0%, 80%, and 40%, respectively. In the PMX group, blood pressure was significantly better over 6 hr than that recorded in the Sham group. In the PMX group, phagocytic function evaluated by neutrophil function, opsonic index, and complement were better than that of the Sham group. In addition, blood endotoxin levels in the PMX group were significantly lower, resulting in a significant suppression of TNF release. In the Resin group, some parameters were significantly better than those of the Sham group, but the efficacy of this treatment was less than that of the PMX treatment. Hemoperfusion over Polymyxin B immobilized fibers can detoxify circulatory endotoxin, resulting in improvement of systemic and organic disorders caused by sepsis.