VENOUS PRESSURE AND CIRCULATION TIME DURING ACUTE PROGRESSIVE ANOXIA IN MAN

Abstract

Venous pressure by the direct method and circulation time from right arm to tongue by the decholin method were measured in 19 normal [male][male]subjected to acute progressive anoxia induced by rebreathing;. The venous pressure showed a variable response. In 4 subjects it progressively decreased. In 7 subjects who fainted during the rebreathing the venous pressure rose precipitously just before syncope, suggesting failure of the right ventricle. In all cases, the venous pressure was restored promptly to normal by permitting the subject to breathe room air. The circulation time from the right arm to the tongue was decreased in all subjects. This decrease was statistically significant. The rate of circulation was normal or slightly slower in some cases as soon as the O2 saturation of the blood was restored to the control level.