The microcirculation in shock.

Some aspects of blood fluidity in hypoperfusion with particular reference to the important role of the red cell are discussed. Changes in different organ beds and the internal fluidity of the red cell, which is of obvious importance in capillary flow are not considered. It is not certain to what extent the phenomena discussed are critical factors in morbidity and mortality in shock because of paucity of objective data but there are good reasons for assuming them to be of importance and for directing treatment towards their correction. The properties of Dextran 40 applicable to the therapy of disordered blood fluidity are described.