Endotoxin Shock in the Primate. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Cardiac output, arterial pressure, central venous pressure and total peripheral resistance were measured in 8 rhesus monkeys before and after intravenous injection of gram negative bacterial endotoxin. Arterial pressure fell more than cardiac output, so there was a decrease in total peripheral resistance. Thus, the fall in pressure was due to a reduction of both cardiac output and total peripheral resistance. Since increasing the venous return by infusion caused the cardiac output to rise, and since the central venous pressure remained the same or fell after endotoxin, the decrease in cardiac output is presumed to result from a decreased venous return.