Environmental stresses and femoral arterial blood flow

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Abstract
Femoral arterial blood flow and related cardiopulmonary parameters were ascertained in 95 anesthetized dogs during exposure to heat, cold, altitude, hypoxia at two different times, and various combinations of these environments. Cold (1 C) and decompression (17,300 ft) without hypoxia at room temperature (24 C) each depressed arterial blood flow significantly the same amount, while the combination of decompression and cold caused a significant depression in flow less than either acting alone. Heat (38 C) alone produced slight increases in arterial pressure and heart rate; however, heat in combination with altitude depressed the flow less than did altitude alone. Hypoxia (Po2 75 mm Hg), whether from decompression or breathing 10% O2 at ground level, increased blood flow while depressing femoral vascular resistance in all animals in cold, hot, or room temperatures. The greatest hypoxic increases in blood flow were noted immediately after decompression both at 24 and 38 C, while the smallest increase was noted with hypoxic exposure during the second period at a cold, simulated altitude. circulation and stress Submitted on June 19, 1963