THESE studies were undertaken to quantify the significance of mainstem arterial backflow distal to acute and chronic occlusions.
Three interdependent questions were posed: (1) Is backflow distal to an arterial occlusion invariably a measure of the patency of collateral channels? (2) To what extent does backflow reflect such determinants as blood volume, systolic arterial pressure, central venous pressure, cardiac output, peripheral resistance, and blood dilution? (3) What are the most effective means of enhancing backflow distal to acute and chronic arterial occlusions.
Methods
Eighteen adult mongrel dogs weighing approximately 30 kg (±3.5 kg) were operated on with the animal under light barbiturate anesthesia induced by intravenous injection of pentobarbital. An endotracheal tube was inserted to deliver 100% oxygen from a mechanical respirator. Through bilateral incisions in the femoral triangles, both iliofemoral arteries were exposed. All branches were ligated from the iliac origin of the inferior epigastric arteries to the midthigh