MULTIPLE ORGAN FAILURE (MOF) AFTER SEVERE TRAUMA - A SHEEP MODEL

Objective: To perform a reproducible long-term (10 days) large animal model of multiple systems organ failure without necessity of a continu ous stimulus. Design: Adult female merino sheep submitted to a 5-day s timulation period followed by a 5-day observation period. Day 1: Hemor rhagic shock was combined with a traumatic surgical insult (reamed int ramedullary femoral nailing), followed by serial administrations every 12 h for 5 days of a combination of endotoxin and zymosan activated p lasma, Organ function was followed for 5 further days.Results: Cardiac index increased significantly during the study (day I: 491 +/- 8 mm H g; day 10: 427 +/- 20, p < 0.05). Liver function was impaired and bili rubin levels increased significantly (day 1: 2.9 +/- 0.3 mu mol/l; day 10: 7.2 +/- 0.9; p < 0.05). Creatinine clearance decreased initially (day 1: 54 +/- 7 ml/min), increased Io a peak on day 2 (104 +/- 27), a nd then deteriorated again (day 10: 53 +/- IS). Conclusion: This new l arge animal model of trauma-induced MOF is reproducible and may be sui table for the study of new therapeutic approaches to therapy.