Intramyocardial distribution of blood flow in hemorrhagic shock in anesthetized dogs.

In 34 anesthetized, open-chest dogs aortic blood pressure was kept at 35-40 mmHg for 3 h to determine if maldistribution of coronary blood flow (CBF) could contribute to the irreversibility of hemorrhagic shock. Six dogs were pretreated with phenoxybenzamine (PBZ) and 11 dogs (3 with PBZ) received hypertonic mannitol infusions in late hemorrhage. Changes of heart rate, cardiac output, and peripheral resistance were similar to those described by others. In untreated dogs total and left ventricular CBF fell, as did coronary vascular resistance. However, minimal coronary resistance after transient ischemia rose progressively and the ratio of subendocardial:subepicardial flow fell, as did the percentage of diastolic coronary flow. Mannitol infusion returned CBF and steady-state and minimal postischemic coronary resistance to control values and also returned to normal the increased myocardial water content found in late hemorrhage. Phenoxybenzamine delayed but did not prevent the rise of coronary vascular resistance or decreased subendocardial flow. These studies suggest that there may be subendocardial ischemia, possibly due to myocardial edema, in hemorrhagic shock.     

Pressure-flow relations in coronary circulation

The blood vessels that run on the surface of the heart and through its muscle are compliant tubes that can be affected by the pressures external to them in at least two ways. If the pressure outside these vessels is higher than the pressure at their downstream ends, the vessels may collapse and become Starling resistors or vascular waterfalls. If this happens, the flow through these vessels depends on their resistance and the pressure drop from their inflow to the pressure around them and is independent of the actual downstream pressure. In the first part of this review, the physics of collapsible tubes is described, and the possible occurrences of vascular waterfalls in the body is evaluated. There is good evidence that waterfall behavior is seen in collateral coronary arteries and in extramural coronary veins, but the evidence that intramural coronary vessels act like vascular waterfalls is inconclusive. There is no doubt that in systole there are high tissue pressures around the intramyocardial vessels, particularly in the subendocardial muscle of the left ventricle. The exact nature and values of the forces that act at the surface of the small intramural vessels, however, are still not known. We are not certain whether radial (compressive) or circumferential and longitudinal (tensile) stresses are the major causes of vascular compression; the role of collagen struts in modifying the reaction of vessel walls to external pressures is unknown but possibly important; direct examination of small subepicardial vessels has failed to show vascular collapse. One of the arguments in favor of intramyocardial vascular waterfalls has been that during a long diastole the flow in the left coronary artery decreases and reaches zero when coronary arterial pressure is still high: it can be as much as 50 mmHg in the autoregulating left coronary arterial bed and approximately 15-20 mmHg even when the vessels have been maximally dilated. These high zero flow pressures, especially during maximal vasodilatation, have been regarded as indicating a high back pressure to flow that is due to waterfall behavior of vessels that are exposed to tissue pressures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Spontaneous closure of iatrogenic coronary artery fistula to left ventricle after septal myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy

Cases of iatrogenic coronary artery fistulas draining into the left ventricle after surgical myectomy for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy have been published as sporadic reports. However, its management scheme and prognosis are not clear because of the low incidence. A 46-yr-old woman was hospitalized for evaluation of chest pain and shortness of breath for 3 months. Transthoracic echocardiographic examination showed typical hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with a peak pressure gradient of 71 mmHg across the left ventricular outflow tract. The patient underwent surgical septal myectomy. Postoperative color Doppler imaging revealed a diastolic blood flow from the interventricular septal myocardium to the left ventricular cavity, i.e. iatrogenic coronary artery fistula to the left ventricle. Ten days later, the fistula closed spontaneously which was diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and confirmed by coronary angiography.     

Acute aortocaval fistula: role of low perfusion pressure and subendocardial remodeling on left ventricular function

The experimental model of aortocaval fistula is a useful model of cardiac hypertrophy in response to volume overload. In the present study it has been used to investigate the pathologic subendocardial remodeling associated with the development of heart failure during the early phases (day 1, 3, and 7) following volume overload. Compared with sham treated rats, aortocaval fistula rats showed lower systemic blood pressure and higher left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure This resulted in lower coronary driving pressure and left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Signs of myocyte necrosis, leukocyte cell infiltration, fibroplasia and collagen deposition appeared sequentially in the subendocardium where remodeling was more prominent than in the non‐subendocardium. Accordingly, increased levels of TNF‐alpha, IL‐1 beta, and IL‐6, and enhanced MMP‐2 activity were all found in the subendocardium of rats with coronary driving pressure ≤60 mmHg. The coronary driving pressure was inversely correlated with MMP‐2 activity in subendocardium in all time‐points studied, and blood flow in this region showed positive correlation with systolic and diastolic function at day 7. Thus the predominant subendocardial remodeling that occurs in response to low myocardial perfusion pressure during the acute phases of aortocaval fistula contributes to early left ventricular dysfunction.     

Modulation of systolic and diastolic function by endothelin-1: relation to coronary flow

Different conclusions have been reached with regard to the effect of endothelin (ET-1) on cardiac contractility. We examined systolic and diastolic function in response to constant known concentrations of ET-1 with or without ET-1 induced reductions in coronary flow (CF). Rat hearts (n= 21) were buffer-perfused using constant coronary flow (cCF) or constant perfusion pressure (cPP). Left ventricular function was assessed isovolumically. Addition of ET-1 (10^-9 M) in the cCF group caused a gradual increase in PP from 61 ± 2 to 165±6mmHg (mean±SE) (P < 0.01). Within 10 min left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP) increased from 111 ± 2 to a maximum of 134±4mmHg (P < 0.01) and [L\dP/dt] increased from 1640 ± 81 to a maximum of 2020 ± 92 mmHg s“¹ (P < 0.01). After 15 min left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), a measure of diastolic stiffness (DS), also increased. With ET-1 (10 ⁸ M), similar haemodynamic alterations appeared more rapidly. In the cPP group, ET-1 (10”⁹ M) caused a sharp decrease in CF and LVSP fell from 115 ± 8 to 62±12 mmHg at 10 min (P < 0.001). Systolic function remained stable at a reduced level for 1 h. DS did not change. Thus, ET-1 possesses positive inotropic effects and increases diastolic stiffness. Both effects may be masked by vasoconstriction-induced ischaemia.     

Shunting of microspheres across the canine coronary circulation.

Coronary shunting of 9 +/-1 micrometer and 25 +/- 5 micrometer radiolabeled microspheres was examined in anesthetized, open-chest dogs, whose left common coronary arteries were perfused at controlled pressures. Shunting was estimated from the difference in radioactivity between perfusion line and coronary sinus blood samples during selective elevations of coronary perfusion pressure (CPP), left ventricular afterload, and inspired oxygen. A linear relationship was found between coronary shunting of 9-micrometer microspheres and CPP over the range 100-200 mmHg. According to regression analysis, percent shunt flow was 4.0% at control CPP (100 mmHg) and 10.0% at CPP of 200 mmHg. No shunting of 25-micrometer microspheres occurred at any CPP. Raising afterload did not affect shunting at control CPP but attenuated the increase in shunting at elevated CPP. Changing inspired gas from room air to 100% oxygen did not influence shunting at control or elevated CPP. Raising CPP to 150 and 200 mmHg also released 2.5% and 5.9% of pretrapped 9-micrometer microspheres, respectively. This study demonstrates that vessels permitting passage of microspheres across coronary circulation are sensitive to elevated perfusion pressure.     

Left ventricular diastolic relaxation and pressure-diameter relations during ischaemic left ventricular failure in the dog

The significance of severe ischaemic left ventricular (LV) failure on the LV isovolumic relaxation process and diastolic chamber stiffness has been investigated in nine open-chest pentobarbital-anaesthetized dogs. LV failure was induced by bolus injections of 50 micron microspheres into left coronary vascular bed until LV minor axis diameter had increased about 25% and end-diastolic pressure about 20 mmHg. Such ischaemic LV failure did not shift the relation between diastolic LV pressure and minor axis diameter compared with pressure-diameter curves obtained before induction of failure. Neither inotropic nor chronotropic stimulation evoked such shifts. Assuming exponential pressure decline, LV relaxation was significantly slower during failure, but proceeded in all experimental conditions at rates which indicated complete relaxation in late diastole. Analysis of the pressure decline during LV relaxation demonstrated that this process proceeded faster than assumed by an exponential function both before and during LV failure.     

Right ventricular coronary blood flow patterns during aortic pressure reduction in renal hypertensive dogs.

We measured right ventricular coronary blood flow with radioactive microspheres during graded aortic pressure reduction in 13 normal dogs and in 13 renal hypertensive dogs with left ventricular hypertrophy. Under anaesthesia and controlled loading conditions, mean aortic pressure was lowered from control (128 mmHg in normal and 146 mmHg in hypertensive dogs) to approximately 100, 90 and 80 mmHg. In normal dogs, right ventricular blood flow was not affected by this pressure reduction, consistent with effective right ventricular autoregulation. In hypertensive dogs, however, right ventricular blood flow was maintained between a mean aortic pressure of 146 and 90 mmHg (range 75-79 ml min(-1) 100 g(-1] but fell by 18% to 63 ml min 100 g(-1) at a mean aortic pressure of 80 mmHg (P less than 0.005). We conclude that autoregulation of right ventricular blood flow was preserved in chronic hypertension but that, compared to normal dogs, the lower limit of autoregulation was reset to a higher pressure level. Moreover, the similarity of right ventricular-to-body weight ratios in the two groups implied that this change was a consequence of hypertension-induced structural changes in the coronary vasculature.     

Adrenal contribution to coronary regulation in the newborn.

Evidence for adrenergic regulation of the coronary vessels was sought in 27 newborn lambs. Sympathetic activity was altered by temporarily lowering cephalic perfusion pressure (CPP) from 90 to 20 mmHg while aortic pressure was held constant. Heart rate (HR) and left ventricular dP/dt max increased markedly, while end-diastolic pressure and stroke volume fell. These changes were accompanied by an increase in coronary blood flow (CBF), myocardial O2 consumption (MVO2), and reduced coronary resistance (CF) (P less than 0.005). After beta blockade, which prevented an augmentation of metabolic demand, the same maneuver resulted in coronary vasoconstriction, reflected by reduced CBF and increased CR (P less than 0.02). This response was eliminated by alpha blockade with phentolamine (2 mg/kg). In 13 lambs subjected to bilateral adrenalectomy or sham operation, lowering CPP elicited similar positive chronotropic and inotropic changes, increases of MVO2 and CBF, and reduced CR. Following beta blockade, lowering CPP in the sham group caused coronary constriction. However, no changes in CBF or CR were elicited in the adrenalectomized lambs. These observations indicate that integrity of the adrenal glands is required for adrenergic control of the coronary vessels in the newborn. Chronotropic and inotropic regulation is mediated by direct neural action and is not dependent on adrenal function.     

Right ventricular coronary blood flow patterns during aortic pressure reduction in renal hypertensive dogs

We measured right ventricular coronary blood flow with radioactive microspheres during graded aortic pressure reduction in 13 normal dogs and in 13 renal hypertensive dogs with left ventricular hypertrophy. Under anaesthesia and controlled loading conditions, mean aortic pressure was lowered from control (128 mmHg in normal and 146 mmHg in hypertensive dogs) to approximately 100, 90 and 80 mmHg. In normal dogs, right ventricular blood flow was not affected by this pressure reduction, consistent with effective right ventricular autoregulation. In hypertensive dogs, however, right ventricular blood flow was maintained between a mean aortic pressure of 146 and 90 mmHg (range 75–79 ml min^-1 100 g^-1) but fell by 18% to 63 ml min 100 g^-1 at a mean aortic pressure of 80 mmHg (P < 0.005). We conclude that autoregulation of right ventricular blood flow was preserved in chronic hypertension but that, compared to normal dogs, the lower limit of autoregulation was reset to a higher pressure level. Moreover, the similarity of right ventricular-to-body weight ratios in the two groups implied that this change was a consequence of hypertension-induced structural changes in the coronary vasculature.     

Determinants of regional myocardial oxygen supply in the left ventricle. An experimental study in the in situ working canine heart

The main factors that regulate myocardial oxygen supply include the 1. coronary blood flow controlling the volume flow fraction of red cells, 2. the oxygen carrying capacity of capillary blood dependent on the red cell volume fraction occupying the capillaries, and 3. the density of perfused capillaries affecting the capillary diffusion capacity and the diffusion distance in the tissue. Differences exist between the inner and outer layers of the left ventricle that include differences of systolic and possibly diastolic tissue stresses and oxygen consumption. The highest values were observed in the vicinity of the left ventricular cavity. The regional differences of myocardial oxygenation were studied in anaesthetized open-chest dogs by measuring the myocardial perfusion rate, the microvascular hematocrit, the PS-product of 51Cr-EDTA, and the microvascular blood volume across the left ventricular wall in the heart working in situ. Gradients of blood flow rates were present with the highest flow in deep myocardial layers. Maximally increasing the coronary blood flow at normal perfusion pressure and metabolic load did not change the distribution of blood flow between subendocardial and subepicardial layers. Distal to a coronary stenosis, blood flow was markedly reduced and redistributed away from the subendocardial layers, indicating a relatively severe decrease of fractional red cell flow to the left ventricular myocardium. The microvascular dynamic hematocrit, i.e. the volume fraction of red cells, was evenly distributed across the left ventricular wall, but consistently reduced to 75 per cent of great vessel hematocrit. The maximal increase of coronary blood flow provoked a further reduction of microvascular hematocrit due to a decrease of the red cell volume, possibly by shunt flow of red cells through low resistance vessels of capillary size. At restricted coronary inflow, the microvascular hematocrit was decreased with a redistribution of red cells away from deep myocardial layers. Extern compression of microvessels by the tissue pressure, phase-separation between red cells and plasma at microvascular bifurcations, or decrease of the red cell fluidity may all contribute to this change. Reduction both of microvascular red cell flow fraction and the hematocrit diminishes the red cell flux within capillaries and decreases the ability of blood to deliver oxygen to the tissue, and more so in the subendocardial layers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Acute intracranial hypertension and basilar artery blood flow velocity recorded by transcranial Doppler sonography: an experimental study in rabbits.

The relationship between intracranial hypertension and basilar artery blood flow is not well known, and it is not yet definite that the reduction of cerebral flow depends on cerebral perfusion pressure rather than microvessel compression. The purpose of the study described here was to investigate the effect of acute intracranial pressure on the basilar flow velocity, the cerebral perfusion pressure, and the systemic arterial pressure. The basilar Doppler signal was recorded continuously in 24 New Zealand rabbits by transcranial pulsed Doppler method. The acute intracranial hypertension was induced by the progressive raising, in steps of 5 mmHg, of a saline infusion bottle connected to an epidural sensor. The intracranial hypertension induced a decrease in diastolic and mean flow velocities in the basilar artery, and an increase in the resistance index. Cerebral perfusion pressure was significantly correlated with flow parameters. The basilar diastolic flow began to decrease significantly from a 35-40 mmHg intracranial pressure and for a 37 mmHg + 20 SD cerebral perfusion pressure, without significant variation of arterial pressure. Diastolic flow dropped to zero for a 53 mmHg intracranial pressure and a 30 mmHg + 15 SD cerebral perfusion pressure. These results show that high intracranial pressure values are necessary for significantly reducing basilar artery blood flow. This effect, and the increase of circulatory cerebral resistance, occurred before significant changes in systemic arterial pressure.     

Coronary vascular and myocardial responses to carotid body stimulation in the dog.

Coronary vascular and myocardial responses to selective hypoxic and/or hypercapnic carotid chemoreceptor stimulation were investigated in constantly ventilated, pentobarbital or urethan-chloralose anesthetized dogs. Bilaterally isolated carotid chemoreceptors were perfused with autologous blood of varying O2 and CO2 tensions via an extracorporeal lung circuit. Systemic gas tensions were unchanged. Effects of carotid chemoreceptor stimulation on coronary vascular resistance, left ventricular dP/dt, and strain-gauge arch output were studied at natural coronary blood flow with the chest closed and during constant-flow perfusion of the left common coronary artery with the chest open. Carotid chemoreceptor stimulation slightly increased left ventricular dP/dt and slightly decreased the strain-gauge arch output, while markedly increasing systemic pressure. Coronary blood flow increased; however, coronary vascular resistance wa.as not affected. These studies show that local carotid body stimulation increases coronary blood flow but has little effect on the myocardium. The increase in coronary blood flow results mainly from an increase in systemic arterial pressure. Thus these data provide little evidence for increased sympathetic activity of the heart during local stimulation of the carotid chemoreceptors with hypoxic and hypercapnic blood.     

Patient-Specific Modeling of Blood Flow and Pressure in Human Coronary Arteries

Coronary flow is different from the flow in other parts of the arterial system because it is influenced by the contraction and relaxation of the heart. To model coronary flow realistically, the compressive force of the heart acting on the coronary vessels needs to be included. In this study, we developed a method that predicts coronary flow and pressure of three-dimensional epicardial coronary arteries by considering models of the heart and arterial system and the interactions between the two models. For each coronary outlet, a lumped parameter coronary vascular bed model was assigned to represent the impedance of the downstream coronary vascular networks absent in the computational domain. The intramyocardial pressure was represented with either the left or right ventricular pressure depending on the location of the coronary arteries. The left and right ventricular pressure were solved from the lumped parameter heart models coupled to a closed loop system comprising a three-dimensional model of the aorta, three-element Windkessel models of the rest of the systemic circulation and the pulmonary circulation, and lumped parameter models for the left and right sides of the heart. The computed coronary flow and pressure and the aortic flow and pressure waveforms were realistic as compared to literature data.     

Computer analysis of cardiovascular parameters

A computer program is described for the analysis of several cardiovascular parameters frequently measured or derived in the chronically instrumented dog model. Data are stored on magnetic tape and are subsequently analyzed with the Apple IIe microcomputer equipped with the ADALAB (Interactive Microware, Inc.) analog-to-digital convertor. Not limited to the chronically instrumented animal model, the program is capable of analyzing left ventricular pressure, three channels of regional myocardial segment length, coronary flow velocity as measured by the Doppler ultrasonic flow technique, and two channels of systemic arterial pressure. Derived data include: left ventricular dP/dtmax, left ventricular pressure-heart rate product, left ventricular ejection time, tension time index; percent segment length shortening and velocity of shortening, dL/dt(s)max, regional stroke work and power, duration of systole and diastole; mean coronary flow velocity, peak diastolic and systolic flow velocity, and true mean systemic arterial pressure.     

A reproducible and stable model of acute ischaemic left ventricular failure in dogs

A model of acute ischaemic left ventricular (LV) failure is presented. In closed-chest anaesthetized dogs 50 micrometer plastic microspheres were injected repeatedly into the left main coronary artery over a period of about 40 min. The injections effected stepwise elevations of LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). Thus, LVEDP could be increased to a desired level, about 20 mmHg, in a very controlled manner. All dogs developed signs of markedly depressed LV performance. Haemodynamic conditions stabilized about 60 min after embolization. The maximum LVDP/dt decreased from 2696 +/- 169 to 1823 +/- 98 mmHg . x-1, cardiac output decreased from 2.81 +/- 0.20 to 1.98 +/- 0.14 l . min-1 and mean aortic blood pressure decreased from 144 +/- 4 to 127 +/- 3 mmHg, while total peripheral resistance increased from 56 +/- 3 to 69 +/- 3 mmHg . l-1 . min. Myocardial blood flow decreased from 103 +/- 7 to 79 +/- 6 ml . min-1 . 100 g-1 and myocardial oxygen consumption decreased from 12.5 +/- 0.9 to 8.3 +/- 0.8 ml . min-1. 100 g-5. Myocardial uptake of lactate and free fatty acids decreased markedly. Electrocardiography showed signs of acute ischaemia. There were no deaths due to ventricular fibrillation. Morphological studies showed multiple small infarcts throughout the entire LV. In conclusion, repeated coronary embolization with 50 micrometers plastic microspheres, guided by the rise of LVEDP represents a simple and reproducible method for induction of uniform and stable acute LV failure.     

Responses to Stimulation of Coronary and Carotid Baroreceptors and the Coronary Chemoreflex at Different Ventricular Distending Pressures in Anaesthetised Dogs

Stimulation of left ventricular mechanoreceptors was believed not only to exert important effects on the circulation, but also to influence the responses to baroreceptor reflexes. However, most previous work is flawed due to inadequate localisation of stimuli to specific reflexogenic areas. In this study, we applied a discrete stimulus to left ventricular mechanoreceptors to examine other reflexes known to effect the circulation. Dogs were anaesthetised, artificially ventilated and a cardiopulmonary bypass established. The pressure distending the left ventricle was controlled through an apical cannula with the aortic valve obstructed by a balloon. Changes in ventricular systolic and end-diastolic pressure had only a small effect on vascular resistance, assessed as perfusion pressure in the systemic circulation (flow constant). Responses to changes in carotid or coronary pressure or to stimulation of chemosensitive afferents by injecting veratridine into the coronary circulation were always much larger. Responses to stimulation of these reflexes were little affected by the level of stimulus to the ventricular receptors. These experiments confirm that responses to stimulation of ventricular mechanoreceptors are very small and show that they remain small at different levels of input to other baroreceptive regions. There was no evidence of interaction between ventricular mechanoreceptor reflexes and carotid or coronary baroreceptors or ventricular chemosensitive reflexes.     

Observations on coronary collateral communications and the control of flow in the coronary circulation of the dog

1. Pressure was measured in the small arterial anastomosing branches of the coronary vascular network. The mean value was 30 mm Hg not significantly different from the mean value of 33 mm Hg for peripheral coronary pressure measured distal to a ligature on the anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery. Evidence was adduced to show that either the anterior descending or the circumflex artery had the capacity to maintain network pressure at levels adequate for tissue perfusion.2. The network has both capacity and compliance. Filling of the network compliance during systole probably accounts for the systolic phase of coronary flow. Flow through the microcirculation is probably entirely diastolic, the combined compliance of the aorta and large vessels together with the network provides the necessary reservoir, the potential energy indicated by diastolic pressure provides the perfusion pressure head.3. Resistance of vessels between the aorta and network cannula (pre-net) was approximately double that of the microcirculation (post-net). The smaller pre-network vessels are of the order 70 mum in diameter. Both pre- and post-network vessels are vaso-active and respond similarly to adrenaline and haemorrhage.     

Effects of alpha-adrenergic receptor blockade on coronary circulation in conscious dogs

The effects of three alpha-adrenergic-receptor blocking agents (phentolamine, prazosin, and trimazosin) were compared on the coronary circulation and left ventricular (LV) function in chronically instrumented conscious dogs. The three alpha-adrenergic-receptor blocking agents were administered in equidepressor doses (mean arterial pressure fell by approximately 20%) and in the presence of beta-adrenergic-receptor blockade and constant heart rate. LV systolic pressure, LV end-diastolic pressure, and LV end-diastolic diameter also fell similarly with the three drugs. Phentolamine decreased the time rate of change of LV pressure (LV dP/dt) by 21 +/- 3%, whereas trimazosin and prazosin decreased LV dP/dt only by 14 +/- 2 and 11 +/- 2%, respectively. LV velocity was not changed with trimazosin and prazosin but decreased with phentolamine by 12 +/- 4%. The three drugs exerted differential effects on the coronary circulation. Only trimazosin increased coronary blood flow (18 +/- 5%). Trimazosin decreased late diastolic coronary resistance (LDCR) by 35 +/- 2%, which was significantly more than reductions in LDCR induced by prazosin (22 +/- 2%) and by phentolamine (11 +/- 3%). A test dose of phenylephrine (5.0 micrograms/kg) increased mean arterial pressure by 53 +/- 3.5 mmHg. After trimazosin, prazosin, and phentolamine, the same dose of phenylephrine increased mean arterial pressure by 24 +/- 2.1, 14 +/- 1.6, and 1.9 +/- 0.6 mmHg, respectively. The response after phentolamine was significantly less than with trimazosin (P less than 0.01) and prazosin (P less than 0.02). Thus the capacity of these three alpha-adrenergic-receptor blocking drugs to dilate coronary vessels is inversely proportional to their capability to block exogenous alpha-adrenergic-receptor agonists.