MYOCARDIAL OXYGENATION DURING ACUTE NORMOVOLEMIC HEMODILUTION: IMPACT OF HYPOCAPNIC ALKALOSIS.

Background: Increases in myocardial blood flow preserve myocardial oxygenation during moderate acute normovolemic hemodilution. Hypocapnic alkalosis (HA) is known to cause coronary vasoconstriction and increase hemoglobin-oxygen affinity. We evaluated whether these effects would compromise myocardial oxygenation during hemodilution.

Methods: Eighteen anesthetized dogs were studied. Myocardial blood flow (MBF) was measured with radioactive microspheres. Arterial and coronary sinus samples were analyzed for oxygen content and plasma lactate. Myocardial oxygen supply, oxygen uptake, and lactate uptake were calculated. HA (PaCO2, 23 ± 2 (SD); pHa, 7.56 ± 0.03) was induced by removal of dead space tubing at baseline (n = 8) and during hemodilution (n = 10), with hematocrit at 43 ± 4% and 19 ± 2%, respectively.

Results: Hemodilution during normocapnia caused decreases in arterial oxygen content (19.9 ± 2.4 to 9.3 ± 1.2 ml/100; P < 0.05) and the coronary arteriovenous 02 difference (13.0 ± 3.0 to 6.4 ± 0.9 ml/100ml; P < 0.05). MBF increased (52 ± 12 to 111 ± 36 ml/min/100g; P < 0.05) to maintain myocardial oxygen supply and oxygen uptake. Myocardial lactate uptake increased (31 ± 19 to 68 ± 35 µeq/min/100g; P < 0.05). At normal hematocrit, HA decreased MBF (57 ± 18 to 45 ± 10 ml/min/100; P < 0.05), implying vasoconstriction, accompanied by decreased myocardial oxygen supply. These myocardial effects of HA were not apparent during hemodilution. HA did not alter myocardial lactate uptake during hemodilution.

Conclusion: When HA was induced during hemodilution, its ability to cause coronary vasoconstriction was lost, and myocardial oxygenation remained well preserved.