Reproducibility of cardiac output measurements in the dog

Abstract

Studies were performed on dogs to determine the constancy of the cardiac output during a 4-hour period beginning from the moment the animal was anesthetized. The cardiac output fell to varying quantities during the first hour but finally became stabilized at approximately 50–75% of the values obtained within the first 2–3 minutes following induction. Considerable variability in this response among different animals was noted. Similar studies on other animals, beginning approximately 1 hour following induction, indicated a similar pattern, i.e. that relatively stable cardiac outputs could be anticipated after this time period. Submitted on July 16, 1958