Abstract
Myocardial failure is uniformly fatal when associated with post-traumatic sepsis and multisystem failure. Controversy exists as to whether endotoxin has a direct effect on the myocardium. A nonanoxic isolated arterially perfused rabbit interventicular septum was used in this study to evaluate the effects of endotoxin, live E. coli, and endotoxin/septic shock plasma on myocardial function and ultrastructure. Purified E. coli endotoxin and live E. coli bacteria did not have a significant direct effect on rabbit cardiac muscle function or ultrastructure. Perfusion of the rabbit septum with plasma from rabbits exsanguinated following a 2-hour septic or endotoxin shock insult, however, caused significant (p < 0.02) myocardial depression when compared with control septa perfused with normal rabbit plasma. Septa perfused with shock plasma demonstrated ultrastructural alterations of mitochondria that were not noted in control preparations.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Journal of Trauma - Injury, Infection and Critical Care |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| State | Published - Sep 1978 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine