The effects of varying fluid volume and rate of resuscitation during uncontrolled hemorrhage

Background: The role of rate and volume of infusion in survival from experi mental uncontrolled hemorrhage was evaluated. Methods: Hemorrhage was initiated using tail resection in 43 female rats as signed to the following five groups: nonresuscitated; resuscitated with mod erate volume, slower rate; resuscitated with moderate volume, faster rate; resuscitated with high volume, slower rate; and resuscitated with high volu me, faster rate. Results: A trend toward improved survival was noted with faster rate of inf usion (60 vs. 33.3% survival rate with moderate volume and 28.6 vs. 12.5% w ith high volume, compared with 16.7% in the nonresuscitated animals). Conclusion: Rapid infusion of moderate volume of isotonic saline improved s urvival in uncontrolled hemorrhage, Extreme volumes, infused rapidly, also resulted in higher survival rates compared with those observed in nonresusc itated rats.