EVALUATION OF THE NITROUS OXIDE METHOD 
FOR THE DETERMINATION OF CORONARY BLOOD FLOW* 
by 
P. A, Green, Capt., M,C,, E, R, Munnell, Capt., M.C. 
L, J, Czerwonka, Biophysicist and Dr. D. E, Gregg, 
Chief Research Physician. 
from 
Medical Department Field Research Laboratory 
Fort Knox, Kentucky- 
30 August 1949 
*Sub-project under Study of Body Reactions and Requirements under 
Varied Environmental and Climatic Conditions, Approved 31 May 1946, 
MDFHL Project No. 6-64-12-06-(21). Project No. 6-64-12-06 
Sub-project MDFKL 06-(2l) 
MEDEA 
30 August 1949 
ABSTRACT 
EVALUATION OF THE NITROUS OXIDE METHOD 
FOR THE DETERMINATION OF CORONARY BLOOD FLOW 
OBJECT 
The employment of the nitrous oxide procedure utilizes the animal 
in a state more closely approximating normal than any method for coronary 
blood flow measurement heretofore reported. The importance of establish- 
ing its validity is apparent. 
A comparison has been made of the simultaneous values for left 
coronary blood flow in the open-chest, anesthetized dog as measured 
indirectly by the nitrous oxide method, and directly by an optically 
recording rotameter. The inflow side of the rotameter was connected to 
a carotid artery, the outflow connection was tied within the left coronary 
ostium. The dog breathed a nitrous oxide mixture, and saturation and 
desaturation curves were established by blood samples drawn from the rota- 
meter and from a catheter within the coronary sinus. 
RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS 
Based on dyed heart weight (the left heart injected with Evans Blue, 
ante mortem or post mortem), the nitrous oxide values differed maximally 
from the rotameter measurements by 450 to -17 per cent in 15 comparisons 
on 10 dogs. In 11 comparisons in 9 dogs, a somewhat better correlation 
(+1B to -10 per cent) was found between the two methods when the rotameter 
flow measurements were based on left heart weight (left ventricle, left 
atrium and total septum) • The nitrous oxide values exceeded the rotameter 
flow values in 10 of 15 and 9 of 11 comparisons when based on dyed and 
weighed myocardium, respectively. 
Since tests have established that the maximum error with the rota- 
meter approximates 5 per cent, these sizeable differences between the 
values obtained with the two methods could arise either from the inaccuracy 
of the nitrous oxide method as applied to the anesthetized dog, or from 
inability to determine accurately the weight of the myocardium fed by the 
left coronary artery. These possibilities are being investigated. 
RECOMMENDATIONS 
None Submitted by: 
Paul A, Green, Captain, M#C. 
Edward R. Munnell, Captain, M.C, 
Lawrence J, Czerwonka, Biophysicist 
Donald £. Gregg, Chief Research Physician 
Approved: 
RAY CJ GGS (J (J 
Director of Research 
Approved 
FREDERICK J 
Lt. Col., M.G. 
Commanding EVALUATION OF THE NITROUS OXIDE METHOD 
FOR THE DETERMINATION OF CORONARY BLOOD FLOP/ 
I. INTRODUCTION 
A method whereby the myocardial blood flow could be measured in the 
intact animal and man would be highly desirable, not only in establishing 
normal values, but as a supplement to other methods of studying the heart 
in the diseased state. The nitrous oxide method for measuring blood flow 
as devised by Kety and Schmidt has been employed for the determination 
of cerebral blood flow in unanesthetized man (l-8), and for measuring 
the myocardial blood flew in anesthetized dogs (9), unanesthetized dogs 
(10), and humans (ll). This procedure approaches this aim more closely 
than other procedures reported. The importance of establishing the 
validity of the method is thus apparent. In brief, the Pick principle 
upon which the method depends, is as follows: The blood flow per unit 
of time through an organ is equal to the amount of a substance taken up 
by that organ in a given time divided by the difference in concentration 
of the substance in the arterial blood supply and venous drainage of the 
organ in the same time period. In the nitrous oxide method, the denomina- 
tor in the Fick equation is found by computing the integrated difference 
between the concentration of nitrous oxide in arterial (samples drawn 
from anv artery) and venous (samples drawn from vein draining the tissue 
studied) blood during the period of equilibration with low concentrations 
of respired nitrous oxide. The concentration of the gas in the tissue 
at the time of equilibrium (the numerator in the Pick equation) is unob- 
tainable directly in the Intact animal or man, and is assumed to be equal 
to the product of the venous concentration of the gas (after equilibrium 
is established) and a partition coefficient (unity in the case of brain 
(12) or heart (9)). When the equation is multiplied by 100, units for 
blood flow values are obtained which, in the case of the heart, are 
expressed as cc. of blood flow per 100 gin. of myocardium per minute. 
Bckenhoff ot al, (9) found satisfactory agreement between left 
coronary blood flow values obtained with the nitrous oxide method and 
values obtained simultaneously with direct measurements made with the 
babble flow meter (13) in the anesthetized dog. For the direct values, 
the arterial inflow through the peripheral end of a cannulated circumflex 
or anterior descendens branch of the left coronary artery was measured. 
The flow in cc./lOO gm. of left ventricle was determined by dividing the 
measured flow by the quantity of heart tissue stained when Evans Blue dye 
was injected into the cannula ted artery, either ante mortem or post mortem. 
The conclusion was reached that gross contamination of coronary sinus 
blood from the right atrium did not exist because, (l) a 0,1 per cent 
solution of Evans Blue dye injected into the inferior vena cava or right 
auricle did not appear in the coronary sinus blood before recirculation 
through lungs and heart (as sampled through a contained catheter (14)); 
(2) the nitrous oxide saturation curve of coronary sinus blood was similar 
from dog to dog. However, no comparisons of the direct and nitrous oxide 
methods were reported in which venous blood samples for the nitrous oxide 
1 curve were taken from an indwelling catheter. Actually, the venous 
samples for the nitrous oxide procedure were taken from a cannula tied 
into the great cardiac vein (15). 
The present investigation is an endeavor to evaluate the nitrous 
oxide method for measuring left coronary artery blood flow, (l) when 
venous blood samples for the nitrous oxide procedure are withdrawn from 
an intravenous catheter introduced from within the venous system and lying 
freely in the coronary sinus; and (2) by comparing it with direct measure- 
ments of the total left coronary artery inflow continuously recorded with 
an optically recording rotameter (16, 17) during the test period. 
II. SXTEHIUISNTAL 
A, Apparatus, Methods and Procedures 
1-ongrel dogs of either sex weighing 15 to 25 kgm, were anesthe- 
tized with sodium pentobarbital, 20 mgm./kgm. given intravenously, A 
cannula for infusion purposes was placed in the right femoral vein and 
kept patent by means of a slow drip of saline. 
A ho. 61-8 tapered intravenous catheter (14) was connected to a 
saline source containing 30 units of heparin/1000 cc. and inserted through 
a branch of the left external jugular vein into the superior vena cava. 
A slow flow of saline-heparin solution was established through the catheter 
to prevent obstruction by blood clots. Under fluoroscopy, with the animal 
in the right anterior oblique position, the catheter was guided into the 
coronary sinus. The catheter was usually pushed well into the great cardiac 
vein to prevent its possible escape into the inferior vena cava during sub- 
sequent manipulations of the animal. 
The dog was then placed on his right side with a sandbag under the 
thorax. Under artificial respiration through an endotracheal tube with an 
inflated balloon, the chest was opened and portions of the 7th-llth left 
ribs were resected. The pericardium was opened by a cross-incision after 
ligating any large vessels on its surface, and a cradle was formed by 
anchoring it to the chest wall with hemostats. The left auricle was 
retracted from the field by means of a suture tied to a small portion of 
its border. Retraction by hemostats on the fatty tissue inside the curva- 
ture of the pulmonary conus brought the location of the left coronary 
artery into view. The artery was carefully cleaned of all connective tissue 
from its origin to the region of bifurcation into the descendens and cir- 
cumflex branches and a No. 00 silk suture passed around it. 
Following intravenous anticoagulants (5 per cent pontamine fast 
pink 3 cc./kgm. and 15 units of heparin) a cannula with a three-way stop- 
cock attachment was inserted centrally into the right common carotid artery 
and connected by means of a short piece of rubber tubing with a 5 nan. lumen 
to the afferent side of an optically recording rotameter having a flow range 
of 0 to 200 cc. (17). 
2 The rotameter arrangement is Illustrated in Figure 1. From the 
efferent side of the rotameter, a 12-inch rubber tube leads to the coronary 
cannula. The coronary cannula consists of a 12-cm. length of 4-mm, thin 
wall brass tubing. To one end, which has been cut off diagonally, a short 
brass lip is soldered at an angle of approximatley 135 degrees. A right 
angle bend is made in the same plane as the diagonal tip so that the dis- 
tance from tip to right angle is 4 cm. To prevent too deep an insertion 
of the cannula into the coronary artery and ultimate ventricular fibril- 
lation, the tip is 2 ram. or less in length. A rubber tubing shunt is 
included in the system whereby the blood flow can be shunted around the 
rotameter as desired. This affords a convenient means of establishing the 
rotameter zero before and after a flow recording and for calibrating the 
rotameter situ. The system is filled with saline, and 1 cc. of heparin 
is placed in the chamber above the rotameter float. 
The coronary cannula was inserted through an artificial opening 
into the brachiocephalic artery about 2 cm. from its origin and pushed down 
the ascending aorta to the region of the left coronary ostium, saline 
in the system was replaced with blood by opening a side tube and letting 
blood flow through the tubing, first from the right common carotid artery 
and then from the aorta. Besides removing the saline and any bubbles that 
may have been present, this served the additional purpose of verifying the 
patency of both the carotid and coronary cannulae. The blood was returned 
to the animal through the intravenous Infusion apparatus. 
The coronary cannula was guided by palpation and visualization 
of the prominence of its tip into the left coronary artery where it was 
tied as closely as possible to the aorta with the previously placed No. 00 
thread. The sandbag and all hemostats were removed following the cannula- 
tion. The three-way stopcock on the carotid cannula was connected with 
plastic tubing to a mercury manometer and a Gregg optical manometer (18) 
for recording mean blood pressure. 
The catheter in the coronary sinus was then palpated for location 
and withdrawn or further inserted so that its tip lay 3-5 cm. inside the 
sinus. In no experiment after final placement of the catheter was there 
observable distention of the great cardiac vein. 
All experiments were done in open-chest animals with positive 
pressure respiration. Irregularities in cardiac rhythm occasionally 
developed an hour or so after cannula tion, but in general, the animals 
remained in an acceptable condition up until the time of sacrifice. After 
adequate technique had been established, the experiments were usually 
completed within 3 hours. 
In some experiments, spot rotameter calibrations were made before 
the nitrous oxide run, using blood withdrawn from the animal and checked 
with previous calibration curves made with a solution of methyl cellulose 
(specific viscosity, 4). In all experiments, a rotameter calibration curve 
was established with the animal’s own blood after the test period. The 
spot calibration points did not vary from the final curve by more than 5 
per cent. 
3 Except for the positive pressure respiration which was used in 
the present investigation, the nitrous oxide procedure for measuring blood 
flow i as similar to that of Kety and Schmidt as adapted for the coronary- 
circulation by Eckenhoff et <al. The gas mixture consisted of 15 per cent 
nitrous oxide, 21 per cent oxygen, and 64 per cent nitrogen. Venous 
samples were drawn from the tapered catheter lying freely in the coronary 
sinus. A catheter of identical capacity with that used for drawing the 
venous samples was attached to the efferent tube of the rotameter near the 
coronary cannula and served as a means for drawing the arterial blood 
samples (Fig, l). The blood samples of 6 ml, each were taken as follows; 
A blank was first drawn from either artery or vein; 1A and IV were drawn 
evenly from the beginning of nitrous oxide insufflation to the end of 1 
minute; 2A and 2V from 1 min, 5 sec, to 1 rain, 35 sec.; 3A and 3V from 
2 min, 45 sec, to 3 min, 15 sec.; 4A and 4V from 4 min. 45 sec, to 5 min. 
15 sec.; 5A and 5V from 9 min. 45 sec, to 10 min. 15 sec. Samples for a 
desaturation curve were drawn at identical times except in one casa in 
which 5A and 5V were taken at ? min. 45 sec, to 8 min. 15 sec. The blood 
samples xvere collected in 10 ml. oiled syringes through manifolds (2) 
connected to the arterial and venous catheters. 
All gas analyses were made with the Van Slyke-Neill manometric 
apparatus by the method of Orcutt and Waters (19) as modified by Kety (20), 
Most of the duplicates agreed within 0.02 volume per cent. In a few experi- 
ments, duplicates were not made for all samples. 
To facilitate the change from air inflation to nitrous oxide 
mixture inflation, two Dann respirators were attached to the tracheal tube 
by means of a brass T-tube and short pieces of pressure tubing. One respi- 
rator was connected to an air pressure source, the other was attached to 
the tank of the special gas mixture. The respirator not in use was isolated 
from the animal by clamping the tubing between it and the tracheal tube. 
An escape vent in the tubing between the clamp and respirator prevented 
excessive pressure in the tube and allowed the system to be filled with the 
gas up to the clamp. The respirators were so adjusted as to have a similar 
depth and rate. Approximately thirty seconds before nitrous oxide breathing 
was to begin, the nitrous oxide tank regulator was opened. At zero time, 
the clamp was quickly released from the nitrous oxide tube and, simultaneously, 
another clamp was closed in a similar position on the air tube. 
If a nitrous oxide desaturation curve was desired, the animal was 
allowed to breathe the gas mixture for approximately 15 minutes, after 
which the above procedure was reversed. 
For comparison of the direct and nitrous oxide methods, a continu- 
ous photokymographic record of the direct flow and mean blood pressure was 
made throughout the time of the nitrous oxide procedure as well as for the 
preceding minute of control flow. The camera was 37 centimeters from the 
recording meter and the photographic paper was fed at the rate of 15 cm. 
per minute. A rotameter zero (recorded) was established before and after 
each test period. 
The average left coronary inflow directly measured was computed 
by planimetric integration of the recorded rotameter deflection covering 
4 the period of comparison of the two methods. The average deflection was 
then referred to the rotameter calibration curve where it could be read 
as cubic centimeters of blood flow. Since the quantity of blood drawn 
from the efferent tube of the rotameter for arterial samples and clearing 
made the recorded flow greater than the amount actually going through the 
left coronary artery, this volume was subtracted from the 10-minute (or 
B-minute) direct flow value as measured (i.e,, in the case of a 10-minute 
record, if 30 cc, were withdrawn for arterial blood samples and a total 
of 7 cc. for clearing, then 3.7 cc, were subtracted from the recorded 
direct flow value calculated as cc./rain.). 
Flow per 100 gm. for the direct method was determined on the basis 
of left heart weight and by weighing the amount of heart tissue (moist 
weight) taking up the blue stain following the injection of 0.5 per cent 
Evans Blue dye through the cannula into the left coronary artery. The 
injection was accomplished in different experiments in one of three ways: 
(l) by injecting the dye at a low pressure into the blood flowing into the 
left coronary artery while the animal was alive and then immediately 
inducing fibrillation by an inductorium; (2) by injection in situ post 
mortem, or (3) by removing the heart (the left coronary cannula remaining 
in place) cannulating the right coronary artery and injecting contrasting 
dyes simultaneously and at equal pressures of 100-150 ram. Hg into the 
right and left coronary arteries. 
B, Results 
Differences in the percentage of tissue stained by the 3 
nisthods appeared insignificant as can be seen from Table 1 which includes 
donor dogs as well as experimental animals. 
Figure 2 shows a nitrous oxide curve typical of those obtained 
in hearts with large coronary flows. Figure 3 shows a reproduction of a 
representative section of the photokymographic record from the same 
experiment. The results of 15 comparisons in 10 animals are presented in 
Table 2, Tue first two experiments can be considered significant only 
insofar as they compare with some of the others. Since the cannulated 
left coronary artery was not injected with dye in these 2 observations, 
it is not known whether any of its major branches were partially occluded. 
If one of the larger branches is blocked by the cannula, exceptionally low 
values will be computed when the directly measured left coronary blood flow 
(cc,/l00 gm.) is based on the left heart weight. Experiments EE6B7 through 
EE690 are those in which the septum was partially or completely unstained 
following the injection of dye into the left coronary artery. Three other 
observations, two of which showed good agreement between the two methods, 
have been excluded from the table either because of distortion of the 
nitrous oxide curve, deviation in the rotameter calibration curve of more 
than 5 per cent, or discrepancies between the duplicates of the nitrous 
oxide analyses. 
Based on dyed heart weight, the nitrous oxide values differ 
maximally from the rotameter measurements by +50 to -17.5 per cent. In 
EE69O, the percentage variation between the two methods is about twice as 
great as in any other comparison, A better correlation is found between 
5 the two methods when the rotameter flow measurements are based upon left 
heart weight (left ventricle, left atrium, and total septem). 
The nitrous oxide flow values exceed the rotameter flow values 
in 10 of 15 and 9 of 11 comparisons when based on dyed and weighed myo- 
cardium, respectively. 
III. DISCUSSION 
These observations shew that a considerable difference exists between 
the left coronary flew as determined with the rotameter and the nitrous 
oxide method. The significance of this difference remains to be estab- 
lished. Critical tests have established that the total coronary flow values 
with the rotameter have a maximum error of approximately 5 per cent. This 
raises the question whether the nitrous oxide method as applied to the 
anesthetized dog is in error or whether a substantial error is introduced 
into the rotameter flow valuea/100 gn, left heart through inability to 
determine accurately the weight of myocardium actually nourished by the 
left coronary artery. 
Based on these two possibilities, various sources of error can be 
thought of, but at present no choice can be made between them. The 
generally higher flow values found with the nitrous oxide method could be 
related to different factors. 
If a time lag exists between the arterial blood flowing through the 
recording meter and that which flows through the intact coronary arteries, 
and if there exists an overlap of these sources to the area of the myo- 
cardium whose venous drainage is being studied, the venous nitrous oxide 
concentration will rise too rapidly and the flow calculated by the nitrous 
oxide method will be too high. In the experiments of Eckenhoff e£ al, (9)> 
this night be a source of error since a time lag approximating one minute 
existed between the arterial blood passing through the bubble flow meter 
and that flowing through the intact coronary artery, and a major branch 
of the left coronary artery which drains into the coronary sinus was not 
cannulated. However, in the present investigation, this error from arterial 
overlap is presumably less, for the time required for methyl cellulose 
(sp, vise., 4) to go from the carotid cannula to the coronary cannula through 
the rotameter system approximated 1-1/2 seconds at 70 mm. Hg mean aortic 
pressure; the left coronary artery was cannulated and the contribution of 
the right coronary artery to coronary sinus drainage is considered insig- 
nificant (21). However, it is conceivable that with a low blood pressure 
and a low blood velocity through the rotameter system, a considerable error 
might be introduced in the nitrous oxide method if the right coronary over- 
lap was extensive. 
Overinjection of the heart with dye will cause the rotameter values 
per 100 grams of heart to be too loy. 
Similarly, the lower nitrous oxide values could be related to (l) 
understaining of the myocardium, (2) admixture of coronary sinus blood with 
blood which does nob drain the myocardium and which has a lower nitrous 
oxide concentration, such as that in the right atrium or that draining from 
the fatty tissue of the heart. 
6 IV. CONCLUSIONS 
A sizeable difference can exist between the left coronary flow as 
determined with the rotameter and the nitrous oxide method. Since the 
maximum error with the rotameter approximated 5 per cent, the discrepancy 
could arise from the fact that the nitrous oxide method as applied to the 
anesthetized dog is in error and/or that the weight of the myocardium 
actually nourished by the left coronary artery cannot be precisely deter- 
mined and hence the rotameter flew values/100 gm. left heart/minute are 
not accurately calculated. At present no choice is possible between these 
two possibilities. 
V. RE COMMEND ATI ONS 
None, 
VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY 
1. Kety, S, S, and C, F, Schmidt: Determination of cerebral blood 
flow in man by use of nitrous oxide in low concentrations. 
Am. J. Physiol. 53, 1945. 
2, Kety, S, S, and C, F, Schmidt: Nitrous oxide method for quanti- 
tative determinetion of cerebral blood flow in man: Theory, 
procedure and normal values. J. Clin. Invest. 22: 476, 1948. 
3, Kety, 3, S. et aid The effects of increased intracranial pressure 
on cerebral circulatory functions in man. J. Clin. Invest. 27: 
493, 1948, 
4. Kety, S. S. est : The blood flow and oxygen consumption of the 
human brain in diabetic acidosis and coma. J, Clin, Invest. 27: 
500, 1948. 
5, Kety, S# S0 £& .§!•: The blood flow, vascular resistance, and 
oxygen consumption of the brain in essential hypertension, 
J. Clin, Invest. 21* 511, 194B. 
6. Kety, S, S, et al,: Cerebral blood flow and metabolism in schizo- 
prcnia: The effects of barbiturate semi-narcosis, insulin coma 
and electroshock. Am. J. Physiol. 104: 765, 1948. 
7. Kety, S, S, ar*l C* F. Schmidt: Effects of active and passive 
hyperventilation on cerebral blood flow, cerebral oxygen consump- 
tion, cardiac output and blood pressure of normal young men, 
J. Clin. Invest. 2£s 10?, 1946. 
8. Kety, S, S, and C, F. Schmidt 1 Effects of altered arterial tensions 
of carbon dioxide and oxygen on cerebral blood flow and cerebral 
oxygen consumption of normal young men. J. Clin, Invest. 22, 484, 
1948. 
9. Eckenhoff, J, E,, J, H# Hafkenschiel, M, H, Hamel, rf» T. Goodale, 
M. Lubin, R, J, Bing, and S# S. Kety: Measurement of coronary 
blood flow by the nitrous oxide method. Am, J. Physiol. 152; 356, 
194a. 
7 10, Spencer, F. C., S, R, Pa,vers, D. L. Merrill, and R. J, Bing: 
Coronary blood flow and cardiac oxygen consumption in unanes- 
thetized dogs. J. Clin. Invest. In Press. 
11. Bing, R. J., M. M. Hammond, J, C. Kandelsman, S. R. Powers, 
F. C, Spencer, J. E. Sckenhoff, W. T. Goodale, J. F. Hafkenschiel, 
and S, S. Kety: The measurement of coronary blood flow, oxygen 
consumption and efficiency of the left ventricle in man. 
Am. Heart J. 23i 1, 1949 
12. Kety, S, S, et al.s Solubility of nitrous oxide in brain. J. Biol 
Chem. XD.1 487, 1948. 
13, Dunke, P. R. and C. F. Schmidt: Quantitative measurements of 
cerebral blood flow in the macacque monkey. Am. J, Physiol, 
138: 421, 1943. 
14. Goodale, W, T,, M, Lubin, J, S. Eckenhoff, J, H. Hafkenschiel, 
and V/. G. Banfield, Jr,: Coronary sinus catheterization for 
studying coronary blood flow and myocardial metabolism. Am. J, 
Physiol. 152: 340, 1948. 
15# Sckenhoff, J. E,, J. H. Hafkenschiel, C, U, Landmesser, and 
M. Hamel: Cardiac oxygen metabolism and control of the coronary 
circulation. Am. J. Physiol. 149: 634, 1947. 
16, Crittenden, S. G,, Jr, and R, E, Shipley: Electronic recording 
flowmeter. Rev, Scient, Instr. 343, 1944. 
17. Shipley, R. E. and E. C, Crittenden, Jr.: Optical recording 
rotameter for measuring blood flow, Proc, Soc. Exper. Biol, and 
Med. £6: 103, 1944. 
18, Oregg, 0, E, and H, D, Green: Registration and interpretation of 
normal phasic inflow into left coronary artery by an improved 
differential raanometric method. >im. J. Physiol, 130: 114, 1940. 
19. Orcutt, F. S, and R. M, Waters: Method for determination of 
cyclopropane, ethylene and nitrous oxide in blood with Van Slyke- 
Neill manometric apparatus. d. Biol, Ohem. 117s 509, 1937. 
20. Kety, S. S,: The quantitative determination of cerebral blood flow 
in man. Methods in Med, Research, Vol. I, Year Book Publishers, 
Chicago, 
21. Oregg, Donald E.i Studies of the venous drainage of the heart. 
Am. d. Physiol. 151: 13, 1947. 
8 f ■ SC : A V ‘fi.v.N 3F .. 'RANGEt/ENT OF APPARATUS FOR MEASURING CORONARY FLOW BY THE 
9 FIG. 2. REPRODUCTION OF ORIGINAL RECORD FROM TYPICAL EXPERIMENT SHOWING MEAN 
FLOW AND MEAN 8L00D PRESSURE IN DOG WITH LARGE LEFT CORONARY INFLOW. 
(0 FIC. 3. GRAPH OF NITROUS OXIDE SATURATION CURVE FROM 
SAME EXPERIMENT AS IN FIG. 2. 
11 EXP. 
BODY 
WT. 
HEART 
WT. 
HEART 
WT. 
LEFT COR. ART. INJECTED 
WITH 0.5% EVANS BLUE DYE 
LEFT 
HEART 
LEFT 
HEART 
NO. 
KG M. 
GM. 
% OF 
BODY 
WT. 
DYED 
HEART 
GM. 
UNDYED* 
HEART 
GM. 
DYED HEART 
% OF 
TOTAL HEART 
GM. 
% OF 
TOTAL 
HEART 
COMMENTS 
EE672 
1 7 
i 1 7,6 
0.69 
96.9 
20.7 
82.0 
87.2 
74.0 
LEFT COR. ART. INJECTED POST 
MORTEM. 
EE674 
1 6 
177.8 
1.1 
148.3 
29.5 
83.0 
128.5 
72.0 
LEFT COR. ART. INJECTED POST 
MORTEM. 
EE676 
I 6 
137,3 
0.86 
1 13.0 
24.3 
82.0 
103,8 
75.0 
LEFT COR. ART INJECTED POST 
MORTEM 
EE678 
t 0 
87.3 
0.87 
65,0 
22 3 
77.0 
,67.3 
77.0 
RIGHT AND LEFT COR, ART. INJECTED 
AT EQUAL PRESSURES POST MCRT, 
EE679 
1 2 
102,6 
0.85 
80.5 
22 . 1 
79.0 
70.8 
69.0 
RIGHT AND LEFT COR ART. INJECTED 
AT EQUAL PRESSURES POST MORT, 
EE679 
1 0 
76.8 
0.77 
63.8 
13.0 
83.0 
59. 1 
76.0 
RIGHT AND LEFT COR..ART, INJECTED 
AT EQUAL PRESSURES POST MCRT. 
EE680 
20 
149.2 
0.74 
117.7 
3 1.5 
78.0 
1 i 0.0 
74.0 
RIGHT AND LEFT COR. ART iNuECTED 
AT EQUAL PRESSURES POST MOR~ 
EE682 
24 
172 1 
0.72 
140,4 
3 1 7 
8 i .0 
127.9 
74 0 
LEFT COR. ART. INJECTED ANTE 
MORTEM. 
EE683 
113.0 
i .0 
93.8 
19 2 
83.0 
85 3 
75.5 
RIGHT AND LEFT COR ART INJECTED 
AT EQUAL PRESSURES POST MORT 
EE685 
1 6 
151.6 
0,94 
I 17.0 
34,6 
7 7.0 
1 1 5.5 
76.0 
LEFT COR. ART INJECTED POST MORT. 
E E686 
! 7 
160.8 
0 .94 
136,0 
2 4.8 
64 0 
125.8 
78 0 
LEFT COR ART. INJECTED ANTE MORT 
EE6S8 
! 3 
95.9 
0.74 
77 2 
24. 1 
80.5 
72.8 
75.8 
RIGHT AND LEFT COR. ART. INJECTED 
AT EQUAL PRESSURES POST MORT 
EE69I 
18 
116.0 
0.65 
92.4 
23.6 
79.6 
86.2 
74,3 
LEFT COR. ART. INJECTED ANTE MORT, 
EE692 
1 7 
138.2 
0.81 
1 1 2,8 
25.4 
62.0 . 
103.3 
74.6 
LEFT COR.ART INJECTED ANTE MORT. 
1 5 5 
0.83 
103.9 
— 
24,8 
|8i.5 
96.0 
7 4.7 
PERCENTAGE OF HEART STAINED FOLLOWING INJECTION OF LEFT CORONARY ARTERY 
••'UMOVED, OR THAT PORTION DYED BY INJECTING RIGHT CORONARY ARTERY. 
'' .EFT HEART = lEFT VENTRICLE. LEFT ATRIUM, AND TOTAL SEPTUM, 
TABLE I 
12  
MEAN 
LEFT CORONARY BLOOD FLOW PER MINUTE 
EXP. 
[blood 
PRES- 
SURE 
N20 
ROTAMETER/DYED heart 
rotameter/left heart-* 
COMMENTS 
NO. 
cc/lOOgm 
cc/IOOgm 
N20-R0T.xI00 
cc/100 gm 
N20-R0T.xI00 
m rr,. Hg 
ROT, 
ROT. 
EE 667 
86 
57.8 (S) 
49.6 
+ 16.2 
£ E 6 6 8 
105 
87.6 (S) 
7 4.4 
+ 17.7 
EE674 
75 
79,6 (S) 
63.0 
+ 26.0 
72.0 
+ 10.5 
EE680 
92 
99.4 (S) 
9 1.7 
+ 8.4 
9 8.2 
+ 1.2' 
EE682 
77 
73.3 (S) 
72.0 
+ 1 .8 
7 9,0 
- 7.2 
SALINE 25 cc.; EPINEPHRINE 1.5 cc. OF 
1; 1000 DURING TEST PERIOD. 
EE685 
100 
94.4 (S) 
8 0.6 
+ 14.5 
84.2 
+ 9.7 
EE686 
62 
67,9 (S.) 
68.5 
- 0.9 
7 4.0 
- 8.2 
1 cc. C0RAM1NE; 50 cc. WHOLE BLOOD 
DURING TEST PERIOD. 
EES8 7 
65 
60 
64 4 (S) 
47.2 (D) 
78.0 
52.0 
- 17.5 
‘ - 9.2 
(88 
62.2 (S) 
6 5.0 
- 4 6 
FIBRILLATION WITH REVIVAL PRIOR 
EE689 
TO TEST PERIOD. 
(93 
80.2 (D) 
73.0 
+ 9.6 
N20 (D) CALCULATED AT 8 MINUTES. 
EE690 
45 
50 
54,0 (S) 
78.0(D) 
36.0 
52.2 
+ 50.0 
+ 50.0 
EE69 I 
95 
103.0 (S) 
106.5 
- 3,0 
11 4.1 
+ 9.7 
• 
105 
15 i.O(D) 
130.0 
+ 16.0 
1 39.2 
+ 8,4 
EE692 
75 
98,0 (S) 
82.3 
+ *9,5 
89.4 
+ 9.6 
75 
65 4 (D) 
53.4 
+ 22 5 
58.3 
+ 12.0 
AVG. 
8 1.0** 
88.6-*-** 
73.6 
84.7 
* LEFT HEART* LEFT VENTRICLE , LEFT ATRIUM, TOTAL SEPTUM, 
** EXCLUDING THE FIRST TWO N20 VALUES. 
*** USING ONLY THOSE N20 VALUES WHICH COR RESPOND TO ROTAMETER FLOW S = N20 SATURATION CURVE 
VALUES BASED ON LEFT HEART WEIGHT. D* N20 DESATURATtON CURVE 
COMPARISON OF NITROUS OXIDE FLOW VALUES WITH ROTAMETER 
FLOW VALUES BASED ON DYED HEART AND LEFT HEART 
TABLE H 
13