The effects of ketamine on the canine coronary circulation

Systemic and coronary haemodynamic measurements have been made in six healthy greyhounds anaesthetized with trichloroethylene. The administration of ketamine in bolus doses of 5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg followed by an infusion 0.1 mg/kg/min was found to be accompanied by a decrease in arterial pressure and an increase in cardiac output produced by an increase (84%) in stroke volume. Coronary blood flow increased greatly as did myocardial oxygen consumption and there was no change in myocardial oxygen extraction.