Pharmacologic modifications of reperfusion arrhythmias in the dog in vivo: possible relation to limitation of the extent of infarction.

To study the effects of pharmacologic interventions on reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, open chest anesthetized dogs were subjected to occlusion of a coronary artery for 3 hours followed by reperfusion for 3 hours. Electrocardiograms were recorded with a two-channel monitor with the subsequent recordings submitted to computer-assisted analysis. The extent of myocardial infarction was measured by staining with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride.