INCREASE IN MYOCARDIAL INTERSTITIAL ADENOSINE AND NET LACTATE PRODUCTION IN BRAIN-DEAD PIGS

Abstract

Brain death increased oxygen demand in the presence of a limited increase in coronary blood flow, resulting in net myocardial lactate production and increased interstitial adenosine concentration consistent with an imbalance between myocardial oxygen demand and supply. This may have contributed to the early impairment of cardiac function in brain-dead animals revealed by rapid volume infusion.