Structure and function of the kidney in septic shock - a prospective controlled study

Methods Fifteen sheep had renal artery flow probes and renal vein cannula inserted. Ten sheep were given intravenous E. coli to induce sepsis and five acted as non-septic controls. Animals were managed for 48 hours with protocol guided ventilation, sedation, parenteral fluids and noradrenaline (NorA) infusion to maintain mean arterial pressure 75mmHg. Renal biopsies were taken from all animals at baseline, 24 and 48 hours or if oliguric for more than two hours. Biopsies were analysed under light and electron microscopy and appearance systematically quantified by expert renal pathologists blinded to group allocation and time of biopsy.