Hemodynamic response to profound hypoxia in intact rhesus monkeys

Respiring rhesus monkeys with 2.5 or 4.5% oxygen greatly decreased their cardiac contractility, stroke volume and blood pressure but altered their total peripheral vascular resistance only slightly and inconsistently. All monkeys exposed to 15 minutes and 2 of 4 exposed to 30 minutes of hypoxia recovered and survived without brain injury. Though all animals recovered full cardiovascular function immediately after they were reoxygenated, 2 respired with 4.5% oxygen for 30 minutes began showing declines in blood pressure after a delay of 1 to 2 hours and both subsequently died in shock. Their reductions in blood pressure were associated with reductions in cardiac contractility and stroke volume. The hypotension the animals exhibited both during hypoxia and during development of shock afterwards resulted from pump failure rather than a reduced vascular resistance or an inadequate venous return.