[Total cardiopulmonary bypass in rabbits. Techniques and the effect of pulsatile perfusion pressure on hemodynamic...

Fifty-two total cardiopulmonary bypasses (CA) have been performed in rabbits in order to obtain a stable preparation. The present paper deals with techniques and haemodynamic results. 1. Two kinds of priming solution have been used. Best results were obtained by using Ringer-lactate-gelatin (65 ml) and T.H.A.M. (5 ml). 2. Pulsatile arterial perfusion was performed either at uniform frequency (series A:10 experiments) or in accordance with the arterial mechanical resonance frequency of each animal (series B: experiments). The later setting resulted in better levels of maximal arterial pressure throughout the experiments (p less than 0,001). 3. The perfusion pressure flows (integrated at minute intervals), and total peripheral resistances, were studied on two groups of 4 animals each, A' and B' forming a part of A and B respectively. The flows were higher in B' after 5 min of CA (p less than 0,001), and after 40 min of CA (p less than 0,025); the flow increased during the experiment in group A' but remained in a steady state in group B'. The differences in total peripheral resistances were not statistically significant after 5 min of CA, but were smaller in A' after 40 min of CA (p less than or equal to 0,025); the difference in the variation of total peripheral resistances was statistically significant (p less than 0,025).