Coronary perfusion pressure and left ventricular function

A stable preparation is described in which the left ventricle is functionally siolated from the rest of the circulation of dogs. Mean aortic (MAP) and mean left atrial pressures (MLAP) can be varied independently while aortic flow (AF) is measured as a dependent variable. Experimental studies showed that when MLAP was kept constant and MAP was varied, a definite maximum of AF was obtained at a MAP that varied widely fromanimal to animal between 36 and 98 mm Hg. The value of MAP where this maximum AF was found increased on the average 10 mm Hg for each increase in maximum AF of 1 l/min.