[Hypothermic management of brain dead dogs]

For preventing graft failure, the effects of hypothermic management of brain dead dogs was investigated. Forty-three brain dead dogs were divided into two groups according to the degree of esophageal temperature; a normothermic group (37.2 +/- 0.3 degree C, mean +/- SEM, n = 22), and a hypothermic group (31.8 +/- 0.3 degree C, n = 21) which was obtained by introducing ice slush in the peritoneal cavity. During the management of brain dead dogs, 1) heart rate, pressure product, and a total amount of catecholamine were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the hypothermic group than in the normothermic group, 2) mean blood pressure, the maximum rate of the rise of left ventricle (LVdp/dt) and cardiac output were not different between both groups, 3) lactate content in the coronary sinus, and O2-extraction rate of the heart tended to be lower in the hypothermic group than in the normothermic group. After transplantation, the recovery of cardiac function was better in the hypothermic group than in the normothermic group. Hypothermic management of brain dead dogs may safely decrease cardiac stress, and keep cardiac aerobic circumstances.