Role of the Intestine in Endotoxin Shock.

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Abstract
The present study is based on the effect of visceral tissue removal on survival time in the dog administered endotoxin. Adult dogs, anesthetized with 30 mg/kg sodium pentobarbitol were administered lethal doses of endotoxin following removal of various amounts of visceral tissue: (a) intact, (b) enterectomy, (c) eviscerated, hepatic artery intact, and (d) totally eviscerated. Results show a statistically significant stepwise decrease in survival time as an increasing amount of visceral tissue is removed from the dog. Data suggest that the gut of the dog is not the "shock organ", but may serve a protective role in endotoxin shock.