An extracorporeal shunt for the measurement of coronary flow in the closed-chest dog

Abstract

An extracorporeal shunt circuit interposed between the left carotid artery and the left coronary ostium employs an electromagnetic flowmeter to measure coronary blood flow in the closed-chest anesthetized dog. Flow may be measured with the animal's arterial pressure as the driving force; introduction of a roller pump, or a roller pump and a negative feedback pressure controller allows for constant flow or constant pressure modes. During occlusion of the circuit or cessation of pump flow, retrograde coronary blood flow can be collected for measurement. The construction of the circuit is relatively simple and inexpensive, using common laboratory materials and a commercially available electromagnetic flowmeter and probe.