The effect of normovolemic hemodilution on microvascular hemostasis in the rabbit

Abstract
Hemostatic plug formation has been studied in the rabbit mesenteric microcirculation during normovolemic hemodilution. A hemodilution method has been developed which maintains a constant platelet count. Using this method the primary hemostatic plug formation time (PHT) and the total hemostatic plug formation time (THT) has been assessed for different degress of hemodilutions. Both PHT and THT are significantly prolonged for arterioles perfused with low hematocrits (10.6 and 14.2). At a hematocrit of 19.0 the hemostasis is most effective with the shortest hemostatic plug formation times.