Occlusion of the thoracic aorta (AO) in dogs with a constant volume right ventricular extracorporeal bypass increased cardiac output (Q) by 43% and mean arterial pressure by 46%, while mean systemic pressure (MSP) was unchanged. We compared AO with occlusion of the brachiocephalic and left subclavian arteries (BSO) which decreased cardiac output by 5%, increased mean arterial pressure by 32%, and increased MSP by 11%. We feel these results confirm that AO elevates preload by transferring blood volume from the splanchnic veins to the vascular system drained by the superior vena cava. If the heart is competent to keep right arterial pressure at or near zero, this increase in preload will elevate Q above control levels. Comparing our data with results of other authors who have not controlled right atrial pressure, emphasizes the importance of a competent right ventricle in allowing venous return to determine Q.
employed the rat heart-lung preparation for the investigation of substrate metabolism in the heart and the effects of positive and negative pulmonary ventilation, but no close study of cardiac dynamics was made. Begovic and Stern 3 produced the preparation under hypothermia. Bubnoff and associates, 4 utilizing the technique of Begovie and Stern to produce the heart-lung preparation, widened the observations upon it by direct cannulation of the right atrium and by measurement of flow through the use of a bubble flowmeter. Kukovetz 5 also employed the technique of Begovic and Stern, and measured output with a device resembling a water mill. Malinow and associates 6 described a technique of preparing the rat heart-lung, but reported no observations upon it. Pietra and Minelli 7 also described a technique, and measured flow with a mechanical drop counter. Solomon and associates 8 -9 developed a technique for preparing a heart-lung preparation in which the lungs were allowed to collapse and oxygenation was carried out by an external oxygenator; this modification was considered to extend survival of the preparation through the avoidance of pulmonary edema.It would not appear that a close study has been made, in the papers referred to above, of the influence of certain variables on the relationship between right-atrial pressure and cardiac output.
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