Effects of acute, oral ethanol on cardiovascular performance before and after experimental blunt cardiac trauma

Acute changes in hemodynamic and electrophysiologic indices were measured following blunt cardiac trauma, oral ethanol, and a combination of both in dogs. Impacts with a velocity of 10 m/sec and a contact compression of 5 cm were delivered to most of the pericardium. Transient arrhythmias in impacted animals resulted in significant reductions in all hemodynamic responses at 15 minutes post-impact. Intragastric doses of 50% ethanol/distilled water yielded average blood alcohol concentrations of 60 +/- 10 mg%, 120 +/- 20 mg%, and 180 +/- 15 mg%. Alcohol effected significant reductions in dp/dt and cardiac index and elevations in total peripheral resistance during treatment. Alcohol and trauma resulted in per cent mortalities of 17, 50, and 71% for each such group primarily from electrical-mechanical dissociation. Surviving animals experienced significant declines in dp/dt, cardiac index, and mean aortic pressure at 15 minutes post-impact. Mean aortic pressure remained depressed while dp/dt, cardiac index, and total peripheral resistance returned to control values.