The effects of lower body negative pressure on the cardiovascular system of the anaesthetized rabbit

Abstract

The technique of lower body negative pressure has been adapted for use with the anaesthetized rabbit. Exposure of the pelvis and hind limbs to suction causes a fall in cardiac output, which is linearly related to suction pressure, and also hypotension, which elicits vasopressor and cardiac reflex responses. The percentage of total blood volume pooled by this procedure in the rabbit appears to be of the same order as in man. The preparation appears to provide a satisfactory animal model for the study of the effects of blood pooling on cardiovascular haemodynamics.