[Blood lactate concentrations as predictors of outcome in serious hemorrhagic shock patients].

BACKGROUND

There is no useful predictor of treatment preventing progress from hemorrhagic shock to systemic inflammatory response syndrome or disseminated intravascular coagulation. Recent reports have shown that blood lactate levels could be related to outcome of critically ill patients including those with septic shock.

METHODS

We retrospectively investigated the relation between blood lactate concentrations and outcomes of 19 patients with Hb < or = 5 g x dl(-1) caused by preoperative or intraoperative bleeding.

RESULTS

There were 15 survivors and 4 nonsurvivors from hemorrhagic shock. No significant difference was found in the highest intraoperative blood lactate concentrations between survivors and nonsurvivors. However, survivors had significantly lower blood lactate concentrations immediately after operation and after recovery from shock.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood lactate concentrations and especially their time courses have a strong relation with survival from hemorrhagic shock and can be reliable clinical predictors of therapy.