The therapeutic effect of hypertonic solutions on the changes in the effective circulating plasma volume in acute necrotizing pancreatitis in rats

While hypovolemia or hypovolemic shock is dominant in the early stage of se vere acute pancreatitis, there have been few studies on the effects of hype rtonic solutions in the management of this disease. We conducted this study to evaluate the therapeutic effects of hypertonic saline solutions (HS) on the course of severe acute pancreatitis in rats. Pancreatitis was induced in male Wistar rats by injecting a 5% solution of sodium taurocholate into the biliopancreatic duct. The effective circulating plasma volume (ECPV) wa s measured using radioiodinated [I-125]bovine serum albumin, Samples of blo od and of ascitic fluid were obtained 3, 6, and 12h after the onset of panc reatitis. Lactated Ringer's solution (LR) and HS were administered consecut ively for 3h beginning 3h after the induction of pancreatitis. ECPV was mea sured 6h after the onset of pancreatitis, The survival rates were investiga ted for up to 10 days, The mean ECPV decreased significantly from 24.9 +/- 1.1 ml/kg before disease onset to 11.5 +/- 1.3 ml/kg 6h postoperatively. LR failed to achieve a normal value for ECPV even following a 150 ml/kg infus ion. HS200 and HS300 restored the ECPV to the normal level, and with smalle r volumes infused, All rats in the untreated group died within 3 days. LR a nd HS improved the survival rates, with the infusion of HS200, 100 ml/kg, t hus attaining a 45% survival at 10 days.