Coronary shock: an experimental study

ABSTRACT

The hemodynamic effects of coronary embolization were studied in 30 intact anesthetized dogs. Blood flow was measured utilizing two methods: 1) dye-dilution using indocyanine green (in 16 dogs) and 2) Kolin-type of electromagnetic flowmeter implanted around the root of the aorta (in 14 dogs). In the latter group of studies, coronary embolization was done after the animals had recovered from the surgical procedure (3-7 days)The hemodynamics were observed from the time of myocardial injury up to the termination of the experiment (extending up to 4 hours after coronary embolization). Coronary embolization resulted in an immediate and marked decrease in cardiac output (40-50% below the control the control), severe hypotension (63%), elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure (50%) and marked elevation of the total peripheral resistance (145%). Partial recovery of the hemodynamics occurred within 5 minutes after the heart injury. Later there was, however, a progressive drop in cardiac output while the total peripheral resistance remained elevated. The clinical implications of the results were discussed.(Summary)