Abstract
Summary
Experiments were completed in anesthetized, mongrel dogs. Kidneys were exposed retroperitoneally through a flank incision to facilitate direct blood flow measurement from a cannulated renal vein. Perfusion was through the intact renal artery of the dog. Renal vascular resistance increased markedly as perfusion pressure and renal flow decreased to low levels by 2 minutes after intravenous endotoxin injection. By 30 minutes, perfusion pressure and flow were still low but renal resistance was at pre-endotoxin level where it remained until 90-120 minutes after endotoxin at which time resistance either increased or remained near control level. Renal perfusion pressure and blood flow were both very low at this point. These data indicate that during irreversible endotoxin shock, except for the very early phase, renal blood flow is not decreased out of proportion to renal perfusion pressure. During the latter period of shock, at extremely low arterial pressure, renal resistance may or may not be elevated.
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