| Abstract | The oxygen carried inside plasma performs differently than the oxygen carried inside red cells. Only 0.13-0.3 mL of oxygen in 100 mL of blood is available inside plasma while 14-19 mL of oxygen is carried inside red cells. Thus, less than 5-8 mL of oxygen is available in the plasma of the entire body. When a patient develops hypovolemic shock, red cells are bypassed and are not perfused directly inside the tissues. However, plasma should reach such hypoxic tissues. Thus, an infusion of oxygen-carrying macromolecules in plasma with a hemoglobin concentration of only 6% and P50 value of 24 mm Hg should be therapeutically effective even if less than 100 mL of stabilized hemoglobin solution (conjugated hemoglobin of 90,000 Da with a molecular size of less than 10 nm or 0.01 microm) are infused under shock conditions. The basic physiology of oxygen-carrying macromolecules is described in detail, which is different from the oxygen carried inside the red cells and inside encapsulated oxygen-carrying particles (typically 250 nm or 0.25 microm). Thus, the oxygen-carrying macromolecues are extremely effective in the treatment of shock patients. In emergency cases, after the bleeding is controlled, a small infusion volume of oxygen-carrying macromolecules will supply sufficient oxygen to the hypoxic tissues and immediately improve the blood pressure of shock patients. |
| Authors | Yukihiko Nosé
(Affiliation: Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA. ynose at bcm.tmc.edu)
|
| Journal | Artificial organs
(Artif Organs)
Vol. 28
Issue 9
Pg. 807-12
(Sep 2004)
ISSN: 0160-564X United States |
| PMID | 15320944
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
|
| Chemical References |
- Blood Substitutes
- Hemoglobins
- Oxygen
|
| Topics |
- Blood Substitutes
(pharmacology, therapeutic use)
- Blood Transfusion
- Emergency Treatment
(methods)
- Hemoglobins
(metabolism)
- Humans
- Oxygen
(metabolism, therapeutic use)
- Shock
(physiopathology, therapy)
|
