Abstract
The effect of profound hemorrhagic hypovolemia on cardiac output and pancreatic blood flow was studied in pigs with the thermodilution method and microsphere technique. Approximately 30–40% of the circulating blood volume was withdrawn slowly during 5 h. Cardiac output and pancreatic blood flow decreased by 35% and 32%, respectively. The animals underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) before hypovolemia and at 5 h after its onset. The changes in systemic and local blood flow were related to the contrast enhancement of the pancreas. In spite of profound hypovolemia and a significant decrease in pancreatic blood flow (p > 0.005), the contrast enhancement remained normal. The results of the present study indicate that pancreatic hypoperfusion caused by hypovolemia does not affect the contrast enhancement of the pancreas in CT.