Treatment of Dogs in Hemorrhagic Shock by Intraosseous Infusion of Hypertonic Saline and Dextran

Under isoflurane anesthesia, 50% of the calculated blood volume was removed from 11 dogs. After 30 minutes, five dogs were treated with hypertonic saline and dextran (HSD) (5 mL/kg) followed by isotonic saline solution (2 mL/kg) intraosseously. Six dogs (controls) received isotonic saline (7 mL/kg) intraosseously. All treatments were administered through the medullary cavity of the tibia over a 30-minute period. Cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, packed cell volume, total protein, and blood gases were monitored for 4 hours. Cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, and circulating volume (indicated by packed cell volume and total protein) were significantly improved after administration of HSD. We conclude that intraosseous infusion of HSD is efficacious in treating hemorrhagic shock and believe the technique may prove to be useful in clinical situations when intravenous lines cannot be established rapidly.