Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Medical Biophysics

Supervisor

Dr. Christopher G Ellis

2nd Supervisor

Dr. Dwayne N Jackson

Joint Supervisor

Abstract

Sepsis is an excessive inflammatory response to infection that leads to multiple organ failure. The high mortality rates in the intensive care unit have remained stagnant, which can be attributed to the disconnect between the bench and the bedside. There is a global need for an animal model of sepsis that is more relevant to the clinical scenario. We developed an in vivo rat model of sepsis, with a high level of instrumentation, to monitor macrovascular and microvascular changes over the course of a feces-induced peritonitis (FIP) .

In addition, early fluid resuscitation of septic patients is associated with better clinical outcomes; however the type of fluid used for resuscitation is highly disputed. The first application of our in vivo model was to use clinical resuscitation targets to test the effect of fluid type (crystalloid or colloid) on both the microvasculature and the systemic circulation.

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