O2 extraction by hind limb versus whole dog during anemic hypoxia

The ability of the hind limb to obtain oxygen and maintain its O2 uptake in relation to the whole body during isovolemic hemodilution with dextran was measured in eight anesthetized, paralyzed dogs kept at constant ventilation. Hind limb venous outflow (ankle to upper thigh) was restricted by tourniquets to femoral vein. Hind limb blood flow, O2 uptake (VO2), cardiac output, and total VO2 were measured at normal hematocrit, at hematocrits just above (16%, stage 2) and just below (10%, stage II) that at which total VO2 could be maintained at the control level, and following isovolemic reinfusion of recovered red blood cells (Hct = 23%). VO2 was maintained at the control level in whole body and hind limb during stage I. Total VO2 decreased significantly in stage II (P less than 0.05), whereas limb VO2 did not. Hind limb had a consistently greater extraction ratio for O2 (P less than 0.01) and lower venous oxygen partial pressure than the body as a whole (P less than 0.01). In spite of limitations of O2 delivery by anemia to the point that total O2 demand was not met, there was no redistribution of blood flow away from or decreased demand for O2 by the hind limb, which was mostly skeletal muscle.