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Effect of gelatin-polysuccinat on cerebral oxygenation and microcirculation in a porcine haemorrhagic shock model



During early treatment of haemorrhagic shock maintenance of cerebral and end-organ oxygen supply by fluid resuscitation is mandatory. Gelatin-polysuccinat (GP) recently regained attention despite a still unclear risk profile and widely unknown effects on cerebral and peripheral microcirculation. This study investigates the effects of GP versus balanced electrolyte solution (BEL) with focus on cerebral regional oxygen saturation and peripheral microcirculation in a porcine haemorrhagic shock model.


After Animal Care Committee approval haemorrhagic shock was induced by arterial blood withdrawal in 27 anaesthetized pigs. Consequently, the animals received rapid fluid resuscitation by either GP or BEL to replace the removed amount of blood, or remained untreated (n = 3 × 9). Over two hours cerebral regional oxygen saturation by near-infrared spectroscopy and peripheral buccal microcirculation by combined white-light spectrometry and laser-Doppler flowmetry were recorded. Secondary parameters included extended haemodynamics, spirometry, haematological and blood gas parameters.


Both fluid resuscitation regimes sufficiently stabilized the macro- and microcirculation in haemorrhagic shock with a more pronounced effect following GP infusion. GP administration led to a persisting, critical impairment of cerebral regional oxygen saturation through considerable haemodilution. Survival rates were 100% in both fluid resuscitation groups, but only 33% in the untreated control.


Equal amounts of GP and BEL sufficiently stabilize systemic circulation and microcirculatory perfusion. Forced fluid resuscitation by GP should be applied with caution to prevent haemodilution-induced impairment of cerebral oxygen delivery.


Fast and efficient therapy of haemorrhagic shock is one of the most challenging tasks in prehospital and early clinical emergency medicine. Massive blood loss can be observed in more than 15% of all injuries resulting in death [1, 2]. The main reason is circulatory collapse, which leads to insufficient end organ oxygen supply and can induce irreversible organ failure [3]. The brain in particular can only compensate hypoxaemia for short periods [4]. Moreover, the resulting inflammation response has the potential to cause further injury leading to multiple organ failure [5, 6]. In prehospital or early clinical treatment of severely injured patients, before availability of blood transfusion or surgical bleeding control, different fluid resuscitation regimes based on crystalloids and colloids are applied in order to prevent cardio-circulatory failure [6, 7]. Colloids, in this context, exert higher volume effects due to the macromolecule-related increase of the oncotic pressure, whereas crystalloids tend to shift into the extravascular space. Hence, colloids are thought to induce a longer lasting and more effective volume effect leading to macrocirculatory stabilisation [8]. For many years, colloids and especially hydroxyethyl starch (HES) were regarded as standard treatment in various shock conditions induced by relative or absolute hypovolaemia. Recently several studies questioned the safety and benefit of HES in critically ill and especially septic patients [9,10,11]. Negative side effects include renal failure with higher rates of renal replacement therapy and mortality [12,13,14]. Other studies contradict these results, describe benefits for the patients and refuse the increase in mortality rates [14, 15]. Nevertheless, this led to a negative risk assessment by the European Medicines Agency, and resulted in permission to use HES being temporarily revoked. Consequently, the use of HES products was prohibited in patients suffering from systemic sepsis or severe burn injury. Recent guidelines on perioperative fluid management re-approved the use of different colloidal solutions for acute hypovolaemia without detecting clear evidence for any particular substance outside the upper mentioned limitations [6]. Gelatin-polysuccinat (GP) is a relatively old and well-known colloid that consists of gelatin polypeptides derived from bovine collagen. For years GP was only regarded as a secondary option for treatment of hypovolaemic shock behind modern HES solutions, which might be explained by the highest rates of anaphylactic reactions among all colloids through GP with an incidence of 0.05–0.1% [16, 17]. While the haemodynamic effects are comparable between both solutions, only the intravascular persistence of GP seems to be shorter [18, 19]. Despite regaining focus for treatment of acute hypovolaemia during the aforementioned controversy, the number of studies, which investigate the disadvantages and advantages of GP in distinct clinical scenarios are limited [20,21,22,23]. Urgent re-establishment of adequate microcirculatory, end organ and especially cerebral oxygen supply represent the cornerstones in acute hypovolaemia or haemorrhagic shock. Therefore, we hypothesized that GP stabilizes the cerebral oxygenation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy-derived cerebral regional oxygen saturation (crSO2) more sufficiently than common balanced electrolyte solution (BEL) in a porcine model of haemorrhagic shock by high-volume blood withdrawal. Secondary outcome parameters include assessment of the peripheral microcirculation and extended cardio-circulatory monitoring.


Anaesthesia and instrumentation

The study was conducted after approval of the State and Institutional Animal Care Committee (Landesuntersuchungsamt Rheinland-Pfalz, Koblenz, Germany; Chairperson: Dr. Silvia Eisch-Wolf; reference number: 23,177–07/G 14–1-084; 02.02.2015) from 02/2015–11/2015 and in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines. 27 juvenile, male pigs (Sus scrofa domestica; mean weight 29 ± 1 kg; age: two months) were included in a prospective study: each nine animals received fluid resuscitation by means of either GP or BEL, respectively. Nine animals remained untreated (control group; no fluid resuscitation).

To minimize stress, the animals stayed in their known environment for as long as possible. A local breeder maintained their overall condition. After intramuscular injection of ketamine (8 mg kg− 1) and midazolam (0.2 mg kg− 1) the sedated animals were delivered to the laboratory. After being placed in the supine position, fentanyl (4 μg kg− 1) and propofol (4 mg kg− 1) were injected intravenously to induce general anaesthesia. Throughout the entire experiment, anaesthesia was maintained by continuous infusion of fentanyl (0.1–0.2 mg h− 1) and propofol (8–12 mg kg− 1 h− 1). A single dose of atracurium (0.5 mg kg− 1) was administered to facilitate endotracheal intubation. The animals were ventilated in volume-controlled mode (AVEA, CareFusion, USA): tidal volume 8 ml kg− 1, positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 cmH2O, fraction of inspired oxygen of 0.4, inspiration to expiration ratio 1:2, and variable respiration rate to achieve an end-tidal CO2 < 6 kPa. With ultrasound guidance, four femoral vascular catheters were placed as follows: central venous line (drug administration, left femoral vein); pulse contour cardiac output system (PiCCO, Pulsion Medical Systems, Germany, right femoral artery); arterial line (blood withdrawal for shock model, left femoral artery); and large-bore venous introducer (fluid resuscitation, right femoral vein). Thereby we ensured to place the PiCCO and the central venous line for thermodilution-related cold saline application into different sides. Haemodynamic and spirometric parameters were permanently measured and recorded (S5, GE Healthcare, USA) Single-indicator transpulmonary thermodilution technique was used to measure cardiac output, global enddiastolic volume and extravascular lung water. Tables 1 and 2 summarize all investigated cardiorespiratory parameters.

Table 1 Extended haemodynamic and blood gas parameters
Table 2 Cerebral saturation and peripheral microcirculatory assessment (% of baseline)

Monitoring of cerebral oxygen saturation and peripheral microcirculation

We measured crSO2 with self-adherent near infrared spectroscopy sensors (SAFB-SM, Adult Soma Sensor, Covidien, USA) in real time, which were attached at the left and right forehead. These values were updated in five-second intervals by an INVOS™ 5100C Cerebral/Somatic Oximeter (Somanetics Corporation, USA), which calculates contributions from arterial and venous blood in a 1:3 ratio. This is a clinically established device for evaluation of crSO2 and used for extended cerebral monitoring particularly during cardiac and major vascular surgery [24,25,26]. Furthermore, the device may have a prognostic value in patients suffering from haemorrhagic shock [27, 28].

The O2C-device (LEA Medizintechnik GmbH, Germany) was used to evaluate local tissue oxygenation and microcirculatory perfusion by combining two separate approaches: laser-Doppler technique and the white-light-spectroscopy. Near infrared laser light and visible white light are emitted and detected. The laser-Doppler measures the Doppler-shift of the laser light (830 nm, 30 mW) that is caused by erythrocyte movement and allows for assessment of blood flow velocity. White-light-spectroscopy is used for measurement of oxygen saturation and the relative haemoglobin concentration in the investigated region. This method simultaneously detects up to 300 wavelengths of white light (450-850 nm, 30 mW).

Oxygenated and deoxygenated blood show different absorption ranges, which is used to calculate the oxygen saturation. The quantity of absorbed light is proportional to the haemoglobin content. Both light forms are emitted continuously and are scattered on the tissue surface. A fibre optic probe type LF-1 with a spatial resolution of 2 and 8 mm depth collects the light in a temporal resolution of 500 ms. This technique is used in s different areas of clinical application [29,30,31,32,33]. The probe was positioned into the animal’s snout to assess the peripheral microcirculation: buccal capillary oxygen saturation of haemoglobin, relative haemoglobin amount, blood flow and blood flow velocity.

Experimental design

The experimental protocol is displayed in fig. 1. After instrumentation and 30 min of consolidation, baseline measurements were documented and haemorrhagic shock was induced by means of arterial blood withdrawal over 15 min (35–40 ml kg− 1). A combined occurrence of decreased cardiac index (< 50% of the baseline value) and mean arterial pressure < 45 mmHg were required as shock criteria. After 30 min of shock, fluid resuscitation was started with rapid infusion of the individually removed amount of blood in a ratio of 1:1 by either GP (Gelafundin iso 4%, B. Braun, Germany, n = 9) or BEL (Sterofundin iso, B. Braun, Germany, n = 9) within 15 min. Nine animals served as control (untreated shock, n = 9). This approach was not influenced by specific cardio-circulatory parameter or goals. Per protocol both infusions differ in their components and biochemical properties (BEL: Na+ = 145.0 mmol/l, K+ = 4.0 mmol/l, Mg2+ = 1.0 mmol/l, Ca2+ = 2.5 mmol/l, Cl = 127.0 mmol/l, Acetat = 24.0 mmol/l, Malat2− = 5.0 mmol/l, pH = 5.1–5.9, osmolarity = 309 mosm/l, GP gelatin-polysuccinat 40 g/1000 ml, Na+ = 154 mmol/l, Cl = 120 mmol/l, pH = 7.1–7.7, osmolarity = 274 mosm/l). Following the procedure, the animals were monitored for two hours. Subsequent to fluid resuscitation, BEL was infused at a rate of 5 ml kg− 1 h− 1. The animals did not receive any further fluid or catecholamine therapy. At the end of the observation, the animals were killed during deep general anaesthesia by central venous administration of propofol and potassium chloride.

Fig. 1

Experimental flow chart. GP: gelatin-polysuccinat; BEL: balanced electrolyte solution


The values are displayed as mean and standard deviation (SD) or plots. Key haemodynamic and microcirculation data are reported as percentages of the individual baseline. To analyse the effect between the three groups over time we performed a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with pairwise multiple comparison correction using the Student-Newman-Keuls method. A p value lower than 0.05 was regarded as significant. The statistical evaluation was performed with the software package SigmaPlot 12.5 (Systat Software, USA).


Haemorrhagic shock was induced by blood withdrawal of 1046 ± 61 ml (36.6 ± 2.1 ml kg− 1), which was comparable in all three groups. We observed a mean shock-like decrease of blood pressure (43 ± 16%), cardiac output (59 ± 16%) and haemoglobin content (87 ± 12%) in all animals. For fluid resuscitation we administered comparable amounts of GP (36.6 ± 1.7 ml kg− 1) and BEL (36.4 ± 1.7 ml kg− 1). Survival rates were 100% in both fluid groups, but only 33% in the control group. The key haemodynamic dataset is summarized in fig. 2 and documents comparable baseline and shock conditions in all three groups. Table 1 shows extended haemodynamic and blood gas parameters. Fluid resuscitation by means of both BEL and GP reliably stabilized the macrocirculation and re-achieved, or surpassed the baseline conditions: infusion of GP initially led to significantly higher cardiac output (178 ± 32% (GP) vs. 130 ± 20% (BEL) vs. 81 ± 19% (control); each p < 0.01), global enddiastolic volume, central venous pressure, and central venous oxygen saturation. This was not reflected in higher mean arterial pressure or lower heart rate. Within two hours, the GP and BEL groups re-assimilate in terms of macrocirculation. Additionally, the three surviving control animals tended to stabilize without treatment, which was associated with persisting tachycardia. Haemorrhagic shock conditions significantly impaired the crSO2. In the control and BEL groups, baseline conditions were re-achieved within two hours. In the GP group, impaired crSO2 persisted significantly differing from the other groups (fig. 3). Peripheral tissue oxygenation and blood flow data adequately reproduced the early shock-induced microcirculatory impairment, but do not differed between the groups over time (Table 2). Following fluid resuscitation, the blood cell counts considerably drop (figs. 3, 4). Haemoglobin, haematocrit and thrombocyte counts were significantly lower in the GP group.

Fig. 2

Key haemodynamic parameters. Group effects over time are analysed by two-way ANOVA and post-hoc Student-Newman-Keuls method; n.s. non-significant; GP: gelatin-polysuccinat; BEL: balanced electrolyte solution

Fig. 3

Cerebral oxygen saturation and haemoglobin content. Group effects over time are analysed by two-way ANOVA and post-hoc Student-Newman-Keuls method. GP: gelatin-polysuccinat; BEL: balanced electrolyte solution

Fig. 4

Haematological parameters. Group effects over time are analysed by two- way-ANOVA and post-hoc Student Newman-Keuls method. * = p < 0.05; n.s. non-significant; GP: gelatin-polysuccinat; BEL: balanced electrolyte solution


This study compares GP and BEL for early treatment of haemorrhagic shock in a porcine model with focus on cerebral oxygenation and peripheral microcirculation. Fluid resuscitation by comparable amounts of GP and BEL were equipotent in re-achieving the pre-shock state of macro- as well as microcirculatory parameters. GP administration caused a persisting impairment of the crSO2. We observed persisting crSO2 deterioration with an approximate 20% decrease from the individual baseline value. In clinical scenarios, drops of 20–25% describe a red line that may require urgent intervention to minimize cerebral ischaemia [34,35,36]. In perioperative settings, these kinds of deoxygenation events are associated with neurocognitive dysfunction, cerebral ischaemia and morbidity [34,35,36].

Early fluid resuscitation to treat a haemorrhagic shock primarily needs to focus on rapid stabilisation of the systemic circulation, and in particular the mean arterial pressure to warrant perfusion and oxygen supply of vital organs. However, macrocirculation alone represents only a poor surrogate for microcirculatory and organ perfusion [37]. We simulated an immediate but not ongoing haemorrhage, i.e. an acute blood loss during surgery with consecutive bleeding control: a composite of high volume blood loss (about 50% of the circulating blood volume) and a shock-like haemodynamic deterioration was used to define shock criteria, which comes below the acceptable thresholds in current permissive hypotension concepts [6]. Both fluid regimes stabilized the haemodynamics and at least re-achieved baseline state. These effects were more pronounced following GP administration with significant lower heart rate, higher cardiac output, global enddiastolic volume, and central venous pressure, which can be explained by the specific properties of colloids leading to higher intravascular volume and colloid-osmotic pressure [12]. Several experimental studies assessed the effects of various colloids and especially GP on distinct end organ sites. Comparable time profiles were also found in postoperative hypovolaemic patients receiving fluid resuscitation [38]. Maier et al. compared different colloids in a porcine haemorrhagic shock model over thirty minutes, and further re-transfused the extracted blood [39]. They report an increase of peripheral tissue oxygen saturation and microcirculatory re-compensation following HES as well as GP infusion. This is consistent with our data, though also realized by BEL administration and the surviving untreated animals, possibly through endogenous compensation mechanisms. The impact on the brain as a highly vulnerable organ has been rarely examined. The cerebral microcirculation shows a different behaviour than the peripheral one and is preserved to a certain degree during haemodynamic deterioration through blood loss by blood flow redistribution [40]. In pigs, cerebral near infrared spectroscopy adequately depicts haemorrhage-induced, cardio-circulatory collapse with a time delay of five to nine minutes [41] that possibly reflects this compensatory blood flow redistribution to maintain cerebral perfusion. Non-invasive crSO2 measurement can be affected by extracerebral tissue. However, this technology is widely accepted in clinical and experimental settings. Particularly in pigs, significant correlations between crSO2, brain tissue partial oxygen pressure, quantitative electroencephalography and cerebral venous oxygen saturation were shown [42, 43].

The recent uncertainty regarding the administration of HES has led to increased use of gelatin-based colloids in the last years. Beyond relevant rates of anaphylaxis, the risk profile of GP remains inconclusive due to lack of high quality data [16]. Another meta-analysis found a favourable renal risk profile in comparison to older HES solutions [44]. Theoretically, crystalloid to colloid ratios of about 1:1.5 may achieve similar haemodynamic effects, but exhibit considerable individual heterogeneity independently of the type of colloid [8]. The present model in this context chose a complete and 1:1 replacement of the drawn blood leading to macrocirculatory stabilization beyond physiological baseline characteristics in the GP group. This approach, however, appears realistic in the clinical routine because ongoing fluid therapy is hardly stopped immediately upon bleeding control and after reversal of severe haemorrhagic shock. Furthermore, sufficiency of bleeding control and availability of allogeneic blood products is limited in the early phase. The consequence was considerable haemodilution through GP and is documented in the significantly lowered haemoglobin and haematocrit counts. Moreover, we found signs of impaired cerebral oxygen delivery. Beyond indicating impending haemodynamic decompensation [41], the early use of non-invasive cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy may therefore help to detect inadequate organ oxygen supply despite re-established macrocirculation and even indicate over-treatment. BEL administration and even the surviving untreated control animals displayed higher crSO2 values. Hence, also BEL can be efficient for reversal of severe haemorrhagic shock, if bleeding is controlled. Non-treatment and permissive acceptance of cardio-circulatory failure is not a reliable option, and well document in the low survival rate: six of nine untreated animals died before finishing the protocol, and were not replaced for ethical as well as experimental reasons. Forced or uncritical fluid resuscitation by GP appears to be a double-edged sword, because the pronounced volume and haemodynamic effect may even cause further harm due to unrecognized crSO2 impairment. Furthermore, current European Guidelines restrict the use of colloids in major bleeding scenarios due to deterioration of haemostasis [6].

The present study has some limitations: due to the lack of adequate data for a sample size calculation the present studies served as pilot data, whereas we adapted the sample size from previous large animal studies focussing on acute cardiorespiratory effects [45]. The short-term protocol and pilot character of the study did not allow for extended neurological testing or assessment of brain damage. Further studies will have to focus on neuroinflammatory and cognitive aspects of fluid resuscitation and different solutions. Therefore, we can only speculate on potential risk for hypoxaemic brain damage in the long run. The correlation between crSO2 impairment and adverse patient outcome, however, is well examined [34,35,36]. For experimental reasons, we choose a scenario without any vasopressor support to address the mere effects of fluid resuscitation. Furthermore, no blood re-transfusion was conducted to focus particularly on the early phase of haemorrhagic shock before availability of extended interventions like transfusion of blood products or specific and goal-directed treatment of coagulation disorders. The use of pigs allows for a setting that is comparable with clinical practise and the physiological response is very similar to humans. The mean porcine haemoglobin content (8.9 ± 1.1 g/dl in this study), however significantly differs from human values [46]. The three experimental groups significantly differed in the applied respiratory minute volume through adaption of the respiratory rates, whereby the three surviving untreated animals were slightly hyperventilated (Table 1). However, given the fully comparable and non-differing parameters that indicate sufficient gas exchange (PaO2, PaCO2, PaO2/FiO2) the relevancy of this finding is low.


Fluid resuscitation of severe haemorrhagic shock with GP was not superior to an equal amount of BEL. Despite more pronounced effects on systemic circulation, GP neither ameliorated microcirculatory perfusion nor was more favourable in restoring crSO2 compared to BEL. Forced fluid resuscitation by GP should be applied with caution to prevent haemodilution-induced impairment of cerebral oxygen delivery. Early crSO2 measurement may prevent unrecognized episodes of impairment through forced fluid resuscitation.



balanced electrolyte solution

crSO2 :

cerebral regional oxygen saturation




hydroxyethyl starch


pulse contour cardiac output system


standard deviation


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The study is part of the PhD thesis of Alexander Ziebart. The authors thank Dagmar Dirvonskis for excellent technical assistance as well as Victoria Marshall and Andrew Robb for their critical revision of the manuscript.


The study was funded by a fellowship of Mainz Research School of Translational Biomedicine (TransMed) affiliated to the Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany.

Availability of data and materials

All data that are relevant for the study are included in this published article. Further datasets analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.


Preliminary data were presented as poster presentations at the German Anaesthesia Congress (DAC), April 2016, Leipzig and the German Interdisciplinary Emergency Medicine Congress (DINK), March 2017, Koblenz.



Author information


EKH, AZ and AGB designed the study. AZ, CM, JK, MS and RT performed the study. CM and MS analysed the data, which were interpreted by AZ, EKH and RT. AZ and EKH performed the literature review and wrote the manuscript. CM, AGB, and JK proofread and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Correspondence to Alexander Ziebart.

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Ethics approval and consent to participate

This study was conducted after approval by the State and Institutional Animal Care Committee (Landesuntersuchungsamt Rheinland-Pfalz, Mainzer Straße 112, 56068 Koblenz, Germany; Chairperson: Dr. Silvia Eisch-Wolf; reference number: 23 177–07/G 14–1-084; 02.02.2015).

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests to declare.

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