With the aid of radioactive microspheres (labeled with 169Yb, 85Sr and 141Ce, respectively), the effect of halothane anesthesia on circulation was studied for 30 min and (group A) for 120 min of halothane anesthesia in thiopental-sedated dogs. Measurements were also carried out on recovery from halothane anesthesia. Besides such well-known general circulatory changes as reduction in cardiac output, pulse rate, left ventricular work, arterial mean blood pressure and left atrial mean blood pressure, in both groups there was also a reduced coronary blood flow. The flow to the lungs, kidneys and the brain was well preserved, despite the reduction in both the cardiac output and arterial mean blood pressure. The flow to the liver, however, did not change during short halothane anesthesia; but during long anesthesia there was a marked reduction, due mainly to a decrease in the flow to the preportal area. On recovery from halothane anesthesia, the changes had mostly returned to the preanesthetic values.

No abstract

Cardiac output and regional blood flow to different organs were determined at one hour and at 24 hours after burn in untreated mice and in mice treated with triglycylvasopressin (TGLVP). A decrease in cardiac output was found in all animals at one hour after burn. At 24 hours cardiac output was decreased in the burned untreated group, while cardiac output of TGLVP-treated animals did not differ from that of unburned animals. Organ blood flow was decreased in all animals at one hour after burn. Such a decrease was seen in the untreated group also at 24 hours after burn, while organ blood flow in the TGLVP-treated group had returned to preburn values.

Radioactive microspheres, labeled withe ytterbium (169Yb), strontium (85Sr) and cerium (141Ce) were used in an investigation of the cardiovascular response to superficial thiopental anesthesia. The course was followed for 90 min and measurements were carried out 30, 60 and 90 min, respectively. Between 30 and 60 min of anesthesia there was a slight decrease in cardiac output and left ventricular work. The blood flow was reduced to the lungs, kidneys and the liver. Between 60 and 90 min there were, except for the coeliac artery and total liver, no further changes, which indicated a circulatory steady state.

Nalpha-glycyl-glycyl-glycyl-(8-lysine)-vasopressin, a hormone analogue with prolonged pharmacological action due to slow release of active nonapeptide by enzyme action in vivo, has been administered to 5 control subjects and to 14 patients actively bleeding from upper gastrointestinal sites. The control subjects showed a prolonged pressor response to 100mug/kg body weight associated with a rise in cardiac output, with no ECG signs of myocardial toxicity. 13 of the 14 bleeding patients showed not only pressor responses and haemodynamic and clinical improvement when administering doses of 20-100 mug/kg, but clear signs of standstill of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.