This study was designed to investigate whether resuscitation with polymerized human placenta hemoglobin (PolyPHb) extended survival and the efficacy of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock. After withdrawal of 39 ml of blood/kg, rats were randomly resuscitated with PolyPHb/HES or HES alone. Systemic, hemodynamic, and blood gas parameters, tissue oxygenation, and plasma erythropoietin (EPO) were evaluated. The results showed that resuscitation with PolyPHb/HES doubled the survival rate and maintained relatively high blood pressure and tissue oxygenation when compared with the results obtained using HES 130 alone. It is concluded that infusion of PolyPHb improves the resuscitative efficacy of HES in the present experimental conditions.
Keywords: hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers; hemorrhagic shock; hydroxyethyl starch; survival; tissue oxygenation.