THE RELATIONSHIP OF BASE DEFICIT TO LACTATE IN PORCINE HEMORRHAGIC-SHOCK AND RESUSCITATION

This study was undertaken to determine the relationship of arterial an d venous base deficit (BD) to lactate levels and SvO2 in shock and res uscitation with the hypothesis that BD is an equally good indicator of the physiologic changes while being more readily accessible. Fifteen mature swine were bled serially of 25% and 40% of their calculated blo od volumes, then resuscitated with lactated Ringer's and blood. Serial hemodynamic and metabolic measurements were made. The BD correlated s ignificantly with lactate levels at all increments of shock and resusc itation. Linear regression analysis demonstrated strong associations ( p < 0.001) for arterial and venous BD (R = 0.808), for BD and lactate (R = -0.794), and BD and SvO2 (R = 0.538). The BD accurately reflected the hemodynamic and tissue perfusion changes associated with hemorrha gic shock and resuscitation. Base deficit is more readily available th an lactate, and is therefore more useful as an index of shock and resu scitation. Venous BD correlates well with arterial BD and can be used when an arterial sample cannot be obtained. The SvO2 correlated well w ith acute volume changes but the addition of supplemental oxygen made it a less reliable indicator of hemorrhage and resuscitation.