The Effect of Immersion Hypothermia on Coronary Blood Flow

Abstract
In severe hypothermia resistance in the coronary vascular bed is reduced and flow continues despite very low aortic pressure. Moderate artificial acceleration of the hypothermic heart at constant coronary perfusion pressures produces a decrease in coronary blood flow. This decrease in flow is roughly proportional to the increase in heart rate and is due to the longer periods of extravascular compression in each cardiac cycle. Epinephrine produces transient improvement in blood pressure and coronary blood flow but is followed in a matter of minutes by ventricular fibrillation.

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