MYOCARDIAL OXYGENATION DURING ACUTE NORMOVOLEMIC HEMODILUTION: IMPACT OF HYPOCAPNIC ALKALOSIS.

Background: Increases in myocardial blood flow preserve myocardial oxygenation during moderate acute normovolemic hemodilution. Hypocapnic alkalosis (HA) is known to cause coronary vasoconstriction and increase hemoglobin-oxygen affinity. We evaluated whether these effects would compromise myocardial oxygenation during hemodilution.

The mechanism of increased blood flow in the brain and spinal cord during hemodilution.

Background: Hemodilution is accompanied by an increase in cerebral blood flow, but whether this is due to vasodilation in response to reduced arterial oxygen content, reduced blood viscosity, or a combination of these mechanisms is a matter of debate. We performed the current study to gain insight into this question by evaluating the effect of hemodilution on (1) vasodilator reserve and (2) the level of blood flow during hypercapnia-induced vasodilation in regions of the brain and spinal cord.

Methods: Sixteen mongrel dogs were anesthetized with halothane 0.