Intraperitoneal Transfusion of Citrated Blood 



111 



53 (2013) 



The intraperitoneal transfusion of citrated blood. 



By DAVID M. SIPERSTEIN and J. MARTIN SANSBY. 



[From the Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, 

 Minneapolis, Minnesota.'] 



These results are based on a study of over 100 rabbits. Fresh- 

 ly citrated blood was injected immediately into the peritoneal 

 cavity of normal and anemic rabbits. In several instances, ci- 

 trated pigeon's cells were introduced into the abdominal cavity 

 of rabbits. All the animals were subjected to careful blood 

 studies. They were killed and autopsied at the end of each series 

 of experiments. 



We think that freshly citrated blood injected into the peri- 

 toneal cavity of rabbits is absorbed, because: 



1. Autopsies at various intervals following the operation show 

 that the quantity present in the abdominal cavity rapidly decreases 

 in amount, and that absorption of comparatively large amounts 

 of blood (one-fifth of the total blood volume) is complete in 

 3-4 hours. 



2. Estimations of blood values show definite increase from 

 the time the blood is transfused until the animal is killed. 



We think that erythrocytes enter the blood without undergoing 

 any morphological changes, because : 



1. Smears, taken at the autopsy, of the fluid in the abdominal 

 cavity show no change in the size, shape or structure of the cor- 

 puscles and no evidence of hemolysis. 



2. Our experiments show a rise in hemoglobin and cellular 

 elements following transfusions in normal and anemic animals 

 which cannot be accounted for by a mere concentration of the 

 blood. 



3. Nucleated corpuscles of pigeons when injected intraperit- 

 oneally into rabbits can be recovered from the general circulation 

 in 15 minutes. 



We submit the following additional evidence that the erythro- 

 cytes function, because : 



