Effects of circulatory arrest and rewarming on regional blood flow during surface-induced hypothermia

Regional blood flow and distribution of cardiac output (CO) were evaluated by the radioactive microsphere technique in rhesus monkeys during surface rewarming following the induction of deep hypothermia (20 degrees C.) under deep ether anesthesia. A comparison of animals subjected to 30 minutes of circulatory arrest and those not arrested revealed cerebral, coronary, and renal vascular resistance and flow patterns consistent with a hyperemic response to circulatory arrest at 20 degrees C. Throughout rewarming cerebral and coronary absolute flows tended to be at or above the flows noted at comparable cooling temperatures in a previous study. Renal flow fraction (% Qt) were well preserved during rewarming to 30 degrees C., but a decrease was observed thereafter. Carcass (muscle, skin, bone) %Qt was also reduced following rewarming, especially in arrested animals. CO appeared to be similar to those noted at comparable cooling temperatures until 30 degrees C. during rewarming; thereafter, CO did not fully recover to awake control levels. These data suggest that regional flow is redistributed from the carcass and renal circulations to cerebral and coronary circulations in response to hemodynamic alterations during surface rewarming. It was concluded that autoregulative responses to both circulatory arrest and hemodynamic factors are elicited during surface rewarming from deep hypothermia to 20 degrees C. with the method described.