AUGMENTATION OF BLOOD FLOW IN THE CORONARY ARTERIES WITH ELEVATION OF RIGHT VENTRICULAR PRESSURE

Abstract

The effect of pulmonary artery constriction upon coronary inflow was studied in the anesthetized, open chest dog. Progressive elevation of right ventricular pressure by this means (to 80 mm. Hg systolic) is accompanied by a progressive and considerable augmentation in right coronary inflow (25-200%) and a smaller but definite increase in left coronary inflow (19-29%) when aortic perfusing pressure remains or is kept at the control value. Right coronary inflow may also increase in spite of a moderate, uncompensated reduction in coronary perfusing pressure (aortic pressure). These findings, obtained in the anesthetized, open chest dog, are diametrically opposed to those reported by other investigators using different methods and preps.