The Peripheral Blood Flow in Surgical Shock the Reduction in Circulation

Patients in surgical shock present clinical evidence of a diminished peripheral circulation. The extremities are cold, the pulse is feeble, and the veins are empty of blood. An increase in the peripheral vascular resistance in experimental shock has been demonstrated by Erlanger, Gesell and Gasser (1). Quantitative measurements, however, on the reduction in circulation in human cases of shock have not been made. These studies were therefore undertaken to learn the extent of impairment in the distribution of blood to the peripheral tissues. In addition, the effect of traumatic stimuli on the volume flow of blood in normal individuals was studied under controlled conditions.