Adenosine-induced increase in graft flow during coronary bypass surgery

The influence of systemic adenosine infusion (30-50 micrograms/kg/min) on peroperative coronary graft flow was investigated in 16 patients undergoing bypass surgery. The central hemodynamic and graft flow (electromagnetic flow determination) responses were studied after 5-min, and in nine patients also after 30-min infusion. The low-dose adenosine infusion had little effect on the central hemodynamic parameters, while the graft flow increased in all patients (mean 84 +/- 12%, total 22 grafts). The adenosine-induced increase in graft flow was maintained when the infusion was prolonged. It is concluded that adenosine can produce marked coronary vasodilation in man at infusion rates that exert only minor systemic hemodynamic effects.