Cardiac output and regional blood flows during hypoxaemia in unanaesthetized newborn lambs

There is limited information available regarding the effects of hypoxemia on cardiac output and the distribution of blood flow and oxygen delivery in unanaesthetized newborns of any species. We measured these variables in 12 unanaesthetized newborn lambs during a control period and during 50% and 75% reductions in aortic blood oxygen content which were produced by placing each lamb in an environment of 8-10% and 5-6% oxygen, respectively. 1-2% carbon dioxide was added to the gas mixture and there were no significant changes in aortic blood PCO2 or pH. Hypoxaemia was associated with a 15-20% increase in cardiac output but total somatic oxygen delivery decreased. Cerebral, myocardial, adrenal and diaphragmatic blood flows increased and their oxygen deliveries were not diminished. Oxygen deliveries to the spleen, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and carcass decreased when aortic blood oxygen content was reduced. This study demonstrates that the newborn lamb has a limited ability to increase its cardiac output during hypoaxemia, but that oxygen deliveries to the heart, brain, adrenals and diaphragm are maintained in association with a redistribution of blood flow.