Rate of reflow and reperfusion induced arrhythmias: studies with dual coronary perfusion

The aim was to determine the relationship between the rate of reflow and vulnerability to reperfusion induced arrhythmias.

Isolated rat hearts, in which left and right coronary arteries were perfused independently, were subjected to transient (10 min) cessation of flow to the left coronary bed. During the subsequent 10 min of reperfusion, flow in the left coronary bed was regulated to create five different reflow profiles (n = 12 per group): (1) immediate restoration of 100% flow which was maintained throughout reperfusion (control); (2) stepwise restoration of flow with 10% flow from 0-1 min, 20% flow from 1-2 min, 40% flow from 2-3 min, 60% flow from 3-4 min, 80% flow from 4-5 min, and 100% flow from 5-10 min; (3) 10% flow from 0-5 min and 100% flow from 5-10 min; (4) 20% flow from 0-5 min and 100% flow from 5-10 min; and (5) 40% flow from 0-5 min and 100% flow from 5-10 min.

There were no significant differences between the groups in the incidences of reperfusion induced ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, which were 100% and 58-92%, respectively. However, the time to onset of reperfusion induced ventricular fibrillation was delayed (p less than 0.05) from 15 (SEM 1) s in group (1) to 191(39), 210(38), and 77(29) s in groups 2, 3, and 4, respectively. No significant delay was observed in group 5. There were no significant differences between the groups in size of ischaemic zone or heart rate.

In crystalloid perfused hearts, restricted reflow delays the time to onset of reperfusion induced ventricular fibrillation but does not reduce the incidence of reperfusion induced ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation.