Annals of surgery
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Recently there has been increasing concern over transfusion-related diseases, especially acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). The authors therefore investigated the efficacy of lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) alone as compared with blood plus LRS resuscitation on body weight change and mortality rate after severe trauma-hemorrhagic shock. Rats, 250 to 310 g (n = 85), had a midline laparotomy performed (i.e., trauma induced), the incision was closed, and a carotid artery, jugular vein, and femoral artery were cannulated. ⋯ Body weight gain was greater in group 2 compared with either of the other groups (p less than 0.05) on day 1 after hemorrhage because of edema, but no differences were seen on subsequent days. There were no differences in the survival of animals in the different groups. These results suggest that there should perhaps be a higher threshold for blood transfusion in the management of severe trauma-hemorrhagic shock than is currently practiced.