The absence of hypothermia-induced cardiac arrest is one of the strongest predictors for a favourable outcome after rewarming from accidental hypothermia. We studied temperature-dependent changes in organ blood flow and O₂ delivery ( D O 2 ) in a porcine model with spontaneous circulation during 3 h of hypothermia at 27°C followed by rewarming. Anaesthetized pigs (n = 16, weighing 20-29 kg) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (i) hypothermia/rewarming (n = 10), immersion cooled to 27°C and maintained for 3 h before being rewarmed by pleural lavage; and (ii) time-matched normothermic (38°C) control animals (n = 6), immersed for 6.5 h, the last 2 h with pleural lavage. Regional blood flow was measured using a neutron-labelled microsphere technique. Simultaneous measurements of D O 2 and O₂ consumption ( V ̇ O 2 ) were made. During hypothermia, there was a reduction in organ blood flow, V ̇ O 2 and D O 2 . After rewarming, there was a 40% reduction in stroke volume and cardiac output, causing a global reduction in D O 2 ; nevertheless, blood flow to the brain, heart, stomach and small intestine returned to prehypothermic values. Blood flow in the liver and kidneys was significantly reduced. Cerebral D O 2 and V ̇ O 2 returned to control values. After hypothermia and rewarming there is a significant lowering of D O 2 owing to heart failure. However, compensatory mechanisms preserve O₂ transport, blood flow and V ̇ O 2 in most organs. Nevertheless, these results indicate that hypothermia-induced heart failure requires therapeutic intervention.

Rizwan Mohyuddin

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