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Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 14, 399-406, Copyright © 1967 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

The Effect of Spinal Anaesthesia on Blood Volume in Man

D. J. ARMSTRONG M.D.1 and D. C. FINLAYSON M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)2

1 St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto
2 Department of Anaesthesia, St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto

Blood volume studies were performed on 19 patients immediately before and one hour after the onset of spinal anaesthesia, using the radioactive techniques and the Volemetron apparatus. No change in red cell or plasma volumes and no red cell sequestration occurred with spinal anaesthesia.

The patients studied were in a state of negative fluid balance because they had been fasting overnight, and presumably had a contracted extracellular fluid volume. Methamphetamine counteracts hypotension by increasing cardiac output and peripheral resistance. It has some beta-receptor activity and produces vasodilatation in skeletal muscle and splanchnic vessels. It is conceivable, therefore, that the methamphetamine may have exaggerated the vasodilatation produced by the anaesthesia, and may have overcome the vasoconstriction that is known to occur in unanaesthetized areas. This dilatation, along with the possible diminished ability of the contracted extracellular fluid volume to shift into the vascular compartment, might explain the lack of any change in plasma volume.

Note:

This study was supported, in part, by grant 1-24 of the Ontario Heart Foundation and by Hoffman La Roche Ltd.






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Copyright © 1967 by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society.