Hemoglobin Vesicles prolong the time to circulatory collapse in rats during apnea

BACKGROUND: Hemoglobin vesicles (HbV) are hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers manufactured by liposome encapsulation of hemoglobin molecules. We hypothesised that the infusion of oxygenated HbV could prolong the time to circulatory collapse during apnea in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (Air, Oxy, NS and HbV). The rats were anaesthetized with isoflurane and the trachea was intubated using 14-gauge intravenous catheters. Rats in the Air group were mechanically ventilated with 1.5% isoflurane in room air, and those in other groups received 1.5% isoflurane in 100% oxygen. Mechanical ventilation was withdrawn 1 min after the administration of rocuronium bromide to induce apnea. After 30 s, 6 mL saline and HbV boluses were infused at a rate of 0.1 mL/s in the NS and HbV groups, respectively. Circulatory collapse was defined as a pulse pressure < 20 mmHg and the time to reach this point (PP(20)) was compared between the groups. The results were analysed via a one-way analysis of variance and post-hoc Holm–Sidak test. RESULTS: PP(20) times were 30.4 ± 4.2 s, 67.5 ± 9.7 s, 95 ± 17.3 s and 135 ± 38.2 s for the Air (ventilated in room air with no fluid bolus), Oxy (ventilated with 100% oxygen with no fluid bolus), NS (ventilated with 100% oxygen with a normal saline bolus), and HbV (ventilated in 100% oxygen with an HbV bolus) groups, respectively, and differed significantly between the four groups (P = 0.0001). The PP(20) times in the HbV group were significantly greater than in the Air (P = 0.0001), Oxy (P = 0.007) and NS (P = 0.04) groups. CONCLUSION: Infusion of oxygenated HbV prolongs the time to circulatory collapse during apnea in rats. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12871-017-0338-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.