In order to study the clinical effects of
naloxone on
hemorrhagic shock, 21 patients with moderate
hemorrhagic shock were randomly divided into two groups. The
naloxone group (NLX group) was infused
normal saline (200ml) and
naloxone (0.02mg/kg) via central vein while the control group was infused
normal saline (200ml) only. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), central vein pressure (CVP), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI), peripheral vascular resistance (PVR), levels of
lactic acid in both artery and vein, and levels of
catecholamine in artery were measured before and after the administration of
naloxone or
normal saline. The results showed that
naloxone significantly increased blood level of
catecholamine and MAP (P < 0.01), the effects sustained for more than 15 minutes with an increased PVR (P < 0.05). After infustion of
normal saline, blood level of
lactic acid in artery and vein decreased slightly (P > 0.05), yet comparatively lower in artery. On the contrary, after administration of
naloxone, the blood level of
lactic acid markedly decreased in both artery and vein (P < 0.01), but higher in artery. It is suggested that
naloxone improve tissue
oxygen supply temporarily with enhancement of tissue
lactic acid metabolism.