Effect of bovine serum albumin transfusion in combination with Plasmex-D-40 and hypertonic saline solution on acid-base and blood gas status of endotoxemic Buffalo calves

Two groups of 5 apparently healthy buffalo calves aged between 4 months to 1 year were subjected to I/v infusion of E.coli endotoxin @ 5 μg/Kg BW/hour for 3 hours for monitoring their acid-base and blood gas status. Group-I animals were kept untreated and observed further for 4 hours after the endotoxin infusion; revealed a non-significant decrease in arterial and venous pH along with significant decrease in arterial PO2 and increase in venous PO2. Endotoxin significantly decreased arterial O2 saturation while venous O2 saturation increased significantly. Mean arterial and venous PCO2, base buffer, base excess, ECF base excess and blood bicarbonate ion concentration varied non-significantly. Group-II endotoxemic buffalo calves were intravenously infused hypertonic saline solution (7.2% NaCl acq.) @ 4ml/Kg BW in 6.5 minutes followed by Plasmex-D-40 (Dextran-40) @ 10 ml/Kg BW as one time infusion followed by infusion of 5% acqeous solution of bovine serum albumin (Fraction-V) @ lml/Kg. BW. The animals of this group showed a significant increase in arterial and venous PCO2 and venous blood bicarbonate (HCO3) after treatment while a significant decrease in arterial and venous blood pH, venous base buffer, base excess and venous ECF base excess indicating development of acidosis. Arterial and venous PO2, O2 saturation, arterial base excess, ECF base excess and blood bicarbonate was either close to or higher than pre-infusion values indicating the beneficial effect of the treatment in countering hypoxia which is invariably encountered during endotoxic shock.