Coronary blood flow in conscious miniature swine during +GZ acceleration stress

One of the factors determining tolerance to +GZ acceleration may be the ability to maintain adequate coronary blood flow. Consequently, the purpose of these studies was to determine the effect of acute exposure (60 s) to several levels of positive acceleration (+GZ) on total and regional coronary blood flow in conscious adult miniature swine. Blood flow was measured with the radiolabeled microsphere technique in chronically instrumented miniature swine during 60-s exposures to accelerations of +3 GZ, +5 GZ, or +7 GZ with anti-G suit support. All levels of acceleration stress caused two- to threefold increases in coronary blood flow. The regional distribution of coronary blood flow during +GZ was similar to that under resting control conditions as long as aortic diastolic pressure was maintained. All left ventricular endocardial/epicardial flow ratios were significantly greater than one, except in two animals, during exposure to +7 GZ. These were the only animals to have aortic diastolic pressures less than 100 Torr during +GZ stress. These studies indicate that, if an animal is able to compensate and maintain a cardiovascular steady State, coronary blood flow will remain adequate for myocardial needs. However, if decompensation occurs and aortic diastolic pressure falls below a critical value, subendocardial blood flow may become inadequate.