The effect of hypercapnia on myocardial blood flow and metabolism

Abstract
1. In closed-chest dogs anaesthetized with trichlorethylene, the inhalation of carbon dioxide sufficient to increase the arterial P CO2 from 40 to about 100 mm Hg, increased myocardial blood flow (measured using a 133Xe clearance technique) and right atrial pressure. There were no consistent changes in mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate or cardiac output.