Coronary blood flow during variation in coronary perfusion pressure

It is demonstrated that severe dysfunction occurs in the myocardial segment supplied by a critically stenosed coronary artery during hypotension, while in contrast an increase in coronary perfusion pressure (to the extent used in this experimental model) is not detrimental to regional myocardial function. If the results of these experiments are applied to clinical practice, it appears to be of primary importance to maintain normal blood pressure in patients with ischaemic heart disease, and it may even be preferable to increase the blood pressure slightly during the peri-operative period.