1. Space prohibits encyclopedic citation of the vast literature necessary to substantiate statements made and opinions expressed in this brief review. Instead, only 3 articles are cited and the reader is referred to the detailed discussions and extensive bibliography available in Chapters I and II of Greene, N.M., Physiology of Spinal Anesthesia, 3rd Edition, Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, 1981.
2. Eckenhoff JE, Hafkenschiel JH, Foltz EL et al. Influence of hypotension on coronary blood flow, cardiac work, and cardiac efficiency. Am J Physiol 1948; 152:545–553.
3. Flackel DB, Sancetta SM, Kleinerman J. Effect of hypotension due to spinal anesthesia on coronary blood flow and myocardial metabolism in man. Circulation 1956; 13:92–97.
4. Sivarajan M, Amory DW, Lindbloom LE et al. Systemic and regional blood flow changes during spinal anesthesia in Rhesus monkeys. Anesthesiology 1975; 43:78–88.