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.