Intestinal vascular obstruction in the cat. Right heart function in a shock model

Cardiovascular function was studied in a model of intestinal vascular obstruction in cats. To measure right ventricular end diastolic pressure and maximal dP/dt, a tip transducer catheter was placed into the right ventricle. The intestinal vascular obstruction resulted in shock with decreases of blood pressure, cardiac output, and external cardiac work. Small intestinal mucosal lesions were found in all shocked cats. At an increased preload to the heart, right ventricular function was depressed in shocked cats. The model corresponds to one used earlier in the rat, where cardioinhibitory activity in venous blood was found in vitro. In this corresponding model of intestinal shock in the cat a depressed function of the right ventricle of the heart was found in vivo.