Henry Skinner, FRCA, Consultant Anaesthetist Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham, NG5 1PB Fax: 01159 700739, E-mail: tamilselvir{at}hotmail.com (for correspondence)
Abstract:
The heart has the highest oxygen consumption per tissue massof all human organs. The resting coronary blood flow is 250ml min1 (0.8 ml min1 g1 of heart muscle);this represents 5% of cardiac output.1 Ischaemia results whenoxygen demand outstrips supply.