Objective: The following were studied in a perimortem mouse model of rapid blood loss: (a) efficacy of a prototypical micellar colloid, Intralipid 20%, (IL20), compared to albumin (b) comparison of intra-arterial and intravenous resuscitation, (c) efficacy of IL20 at a volume 2 × the volume of blood removed, and (d) efficacy of oxygenated IL20 after clinical death (CD).
Methods: CD, the absence of breathing and zero blood pressure (BP), was produced by removing 55% of the blood volume within 3 minutes. After CD, the chest was opened to observe ventricular contraction. IL20, Ringer's lactate (RL), or albumin was infused perimortem.
Results: Without resuscitation CD occurred in 2.85 ± 0.40 minutes. Ventricular contraction persisted 20.50 ± 1.11 minutes after CD. RL infused immediately after CD restored breathing if given intra-arterially but not intravenously. IL20 was superior to the prototypical colloid, albumin in maintaining the BP. Increasing the volume of IL20 further increased BP. Delayed RL infusion after CD failed to restore breathing. Delayed resuscitation after CD with oxygenated IL20 restored breathing and BP.
Conclusions: Micellar colloid is superior to the prototypical colloid albumin and can possibly be of use when signs of life are no longer present. In extremis, intra-arterial infusion is superior to intravenous infusion.
Reprint & Copyright © 2016 Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.