Tolerance of Human and Rat Atrial Muscle to Hypothermia and Anoxia

Abstract
Evidence is presented which strongly suggests the preservation of contractility of human atrial muscle when hypothermia of 25 to 31 C. is used during anoxia. Parallel studies were carried out on albino rat atria which gave results similar to that of the human tissue. This report adds further evidence that hypothermia is valuable in open-heart surgery when anoxic is indicated for the repair of cardiac malformations.