A technique for measurement of retrograde coronary blood flow in intact anesthetized dogs

Abstract

A technique for measurement of retrograde coronary blood flow in intact anesthetized dogs is described. Occlusion of the coronary artery is produced by the inflation of a small rubber balloon at the tip of a no. 9 cardiac catheter placed under fluorescopy in a branch of the left coronary artery. Blood which bleeds back from the occluded coronary artery through the no. 9 catheter is diverted into a small reservoir of 1-ml capacity. The time to fill this reservoir is recorded electrically. Retrograde coronary blood flow is calculated from the time required to fill this reservoir. Results indicate good repeatability of meadurements. The technique seems to be a simple, adequate, and convenient means for assessing agents for possible vasodilator action on the collateral circulation in intact animals.

Retrograde coronary blood flow after mannitol in intact anesthetized dogs

“…For retrograde coronary blood flow and coronary arterial blood pressure measurements, a ~9F cardiac catheter with a small inflatable cuff at the tip was inserted through the left carotid artery and into a branch of left coronary artery according to a technique recently described by us (2). Cardiac catheters were placed under fluoroscopy, two in the pulmonary artery and one in the right atrium.…”

“…Recently we have described a technique for measurement of retrograde coronary blood flow in intact anesthetized dogs (2). Previous investigations have shown that mannitol increases coronary collateral blood flow in open chest animals (1) and its potential use in clinical situations may be implied from these observations.…”