Experimental study on coronary perfusion with selective brain cooling for direct aortic surgery

1. Retrograde coronary perfusion in combination with selective brain cooling by irrigation was investigated in dogs, in comparison with direct coronary artery perfusion. 2. High incidence of ventricular fibrillation was seen in both methods in hypothermic state. Operation at the normal temperature using extracorporeal circulation is desirable, 3. In view of the above results optimal perfusion pressure appears 30 mm Hg. in retroperfusion, while 100 mm Hg. in direct coronary artery perfusion. 4. The right ventricle anoxia is an undesirable feature in retroperfusion, while the left ventricle showed a tendency to slight anoxia in both methods.