Normothermic extracorporeal oxygenation and oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation characteristics of stroma-free hemoglobin solution (SFHS) were studied. One hour of normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass, using a total SFHS prime, resulted in arterial pH 7.31 ~ 7.38, PaO, 120 -140 mm Hg, SaO, 99%, and mean arterial pressure of 85 mm Hg. One hour after perfusion, the animal died with acute pulmonary edema from severe hemodilution and hypoxemia. Hypothermic (25OC) myocardial metabolism was studied. Myocardial utilization (MU) values for oxygen, lactate, pyruvate, and glucose during SFHS perfusion were 1.46 and 1.71 m1/100 gm/min, +1.01 and +0.08 mg/100 gm/min, -0.32 and -0.04 mg/100 gm/min, and -34.4 and -9.50 mg/100 gm/min. MU values during whole blood perfusion were 2.21 and 2.13 m1/100 gm/min, -5.19 and -2.99 mg/100 gm/min, -0.65 and 0.22 mg/100 gm/min, and -13.7 and -5.32 mg/100 gm/min. These data suggest the necessity of further studies t o identify any usefulness of SFHS as a whole blood substitute.