LAUSR

BACKGROUND Hemorrhage is the leading cause of preventable, traumatic death. Currently, pre-hospital resuscitation fluids provide preload but not oxygen carrying capacity-a critical blood function that mitigates microvascular ischemia and tissue hypoxia during hemorrhagic shock. Solutions containing polymerized hemoglobin have been associated with vasoactive and hypertensive events. A novel hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, modified with PEGylation and CO moieties (PEG-COHb) may overcome these limitations. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the systemic and microcirculatory effects of PEG-COHb as compared to the 6% hetastarch in a rat model of hemorrhagic shock. METHODS Male Sprague Dawley rats (N = 20) were subjected to severe, controlled, hemorrhagic shock. Animals were randomized to 20% estimated blood-volume resuscitation with either 6% hetastarch or PEG-COHb. Continuous, invasive, cardiovascular measurements and arterial blood gases were measured. Microcirculatory measurements of interstitial oxygenation (PISFO2) and vasoactivity helped model oxygen delivery in the spinotrapezius muscle using intravital and phosphorescence quenching microscopy. RESULTS Hemorrhage reduced mean arterial pressure (MAP), arteriolar diameter and PISFO2, and increased lactate 10-fold in both groups. Resuscitation with both PEG-COHb and hetastarch improved cardiovascular parameters. However, PEG-COHb treatment resulted in higher MAP (p < 0.001), improved PISFO2 (14 [PEG-COHb] vs 5 [hetastarch] mmHg; p < 0.0001), lower lactate post-resuscitation (p < 0.01) and extended survival from 90 min to 142 minutes (p < 0.001) as compared to the hetastarch group. CONCLUSIONS PEG-COHb improved MAP PISFO2, lactate and survival time as compared to 6% hetastarch resuscitation. Importantly, hypertension and vasoactivity were not detected in response to PEG-COHb resuscitation supporting further investigation of this resuscitation strategy.