[Correlation between coronary dilatation reserve and cardiac contractile function after marked disorders of coronary...

Relationship between the realization of the coronary dilatation reserve and cardiac contractility was investigated in acute dog experiments with the intact thoracic cage under partially limited and rationed flow through a major coronary artery (a 30-minute 70% reduction), and during subsequent reperfusion. Limited coronary flow was seen in combination with moderately depressed cardiac contractility that did not improve significantly during the reperfusion period of equal duration. Inadequate realization of the coronary dilatation reserve that fails to restore the balance between blood supply and myocardial oxygen requirement may be a cause of incomplete recovery during the early reperfusion period.