The Pressure-Volume Responses of Human Forearm Veins During Epinephrine and Norepinephrine Infusions12

Abstract

Epinephrine chloride (15.0 mg/minute) and norepinephrine bitartrate (30.0 mg/minute) were infused into a foot vein. Epinephrine infusion caused an average increase in forearm venous pressure of 3.9 [plus or minus] 1.19 mm Hg, while norepinephrine caused an average venous pressure increase of 7.2 i 1.31. Epinephrine caused an average decrease in forearm venous volume at 30 mm Hg distending pressure of 1.3 [plus or minus] 0.53 ml/100 ml of forearm tissue, while norepinephrine caused an average decrease of 1.6 [plus or minus] 0.55. At naturally occurring venous pressures epinephrine caused an average fall in venous volume of 1.0 [plus or minus] 0.46 ml/100 ml, while norepinephrine caused an average fall of 1.1 [plus or minus] 0.45. The shifts of blood from the veins of the forearm segment with these drugs averaged 34% of the naturally occurring forearm venous volume.