THE CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF ACUTELY INDUCED HYPOTHERMIA 12

Abstract

Under the conditions of relatively constant body temperature which exist in warm blooded animals including man, the physiological variations occurring in circulatory functions such as blood pressure, cardiac output, and circulatory rate are small. This relative constancy has led to the de- velopment of the concept of circulatory homeo- stasis. In recent years there has been a growing appreciation that the warm blooded animal may survive at greatly reduced body temperature dur- ing which marked circulatory changes may occur. The interdependence of the several cardiovascular functions has indicated the need for a correlation of the circulatory adjustments which occur dur- ing such progressive hypothermia. Only in this manner would it be possible to interpret the sig- nificance of the changes and their respective roles in the integration of the animal under the stress imposed by the hypothermia. Such studies may also have value in the development of rational therapy for individuals who have undergone prolonged exposure to cold.