Effects of acute isovolemic hemodilution and anesthesia on regional function in left ventricular myocardium with...

The effects of progressive, isovolemic hemodilution using Dextran 70 and the effect of halothane (0.7, 0.9, 1.1, and 1.3% end-tidal, administered randomly at each level of hemodilution) on global cardiovascular and regional LV contractile functions were investigated in 24 dogs with induced critical constriction of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Two additional groups of six dogs each (with and without LAD stenosis) not undergoing hemodilution served as time controls. Regional LV contractile function was assessed by sonomicrometry in the flow-compromised apical LAD territory, as well as in three non-compromised LV areas supplied by the left circumflex coronary artery. Regional myocardial function was found to be stable throughout the study period of 4-5 h in both time control groups. Mean arterial and coronary perfusion pressures as well as LV dP/dtmin decreased (P < 0.01) during hemodilution. LV dP/dtmax remained unchanged, and heart rate and LVEDP increased slightly (P < 0.05). Systolic shortening (SS) in the LAD territory was unchanged at a hematocrit (HCT) of 33.5 +/- 0.3% (mean +/- s.e. mean), and decreased marginally at an HCT of 24.2 +/- 0.1% (SS of 17.4 +/- 1.0% as compared to 20.2 +/- 1.6% at critical constriction (CC), P < 0.05). No increase in post-systolic shortening (PSS) occurred in the compromised area. Severe LAD dysfunction was observed in the LAD territory at an HCT of 14.9 +/- 0.1%, as systolic shortening decreased (11.8 +/- 1.1%, P < 0.01 vs CC) and PSS increased (31.2 +/- 3.4%, P < 0.01 vs CC). The effects of hemodilution on global cardiovascular and regional myocardial functions were unaffected by halothane.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)