Does hypertonic saline-dextran improve intestinal perfusion and survival in porcine endotoxin shock?
Small-volume HSD resuscitation is much more effective than ISD resuscitation. Variables that were improved include cardiac output, portal blood flow, and intestinal mucosal blood flow in ET shock, all of which improve survival. Such beneficial effects of HSD on splanchnic perfusion may be of value in treating critically ill septic patients in the intensive care unit.
In conclusion, the present study shows that gaps in the ligamenta flava are frequent at cervical and high thoracic levels but become rare at the T3/T4 level and below, such that one cannot always rely on the ligamentum flavum as a perceptible barrier to epidural needle placement at these levels.