An observational study of vasopressin infusion during uncontrolled haemorrhagic shock in a porcine trauma model: Effects on bowel function

The effects of vasopressin on the gut in a porcine uncontrolled haemorrhagic shock model are described. In eight anaesthetised pigs, a liver laceration was performed; when haemorrhagic shock was decompensated, all animals received 0.4 IU/kg vasopressin, followed by 0.08 IU/kg min over 30 min, which maintained a mean arterial blood pressure >40 mmHg. Subsequent surgical intervention, infusion of whole blood and fluids resulted in a stable cardiocirculatory status. Three hours after stabilisation, all pigs developed non-bloody diarrhoea which converted into normal bowel movements within 24 h. All histological samples retained 7 days after the experiment revealed no histopathological changes. In conclusion, in this small observational study of uncontrolled porcine haemorrhagic shock, a resuscitation strategy that included high dose vasopressin was associated with transient diarrhoea and good long term survival.