Preservation of regional and global left ventricular function by intracoronary infusion with oxygenated fluorocarbon emulsion Therox in dogs.

We tested the oxygen transport and delivery capacity of the novel perfluorocarbon emulsion, Therox (F44E, 1,2-bis-perfluorobutyl-ethylene) by comparing left ventricular regional and global function in dogs during perfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) with oxygenated Krebs buffer and oxygenated Therox emulsion (20% w/v) at 20 ml/min for two separate 3 min periods. During LAD perfusion with oxygenated Krebs buffer, complete loss of systolic wall thickening in the LAD perfusion area was observed, dP/dt was significantly reduced and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was increased. In contrast, LAD perfusion with oxygenated Therox maintained regional wall thickening at 60-70% of control and completely preserved global function as measured by dP/dt and LVEDP. Thus, Therox is an effective oxygen carrier in this animal model.