125 REDISTRIBUTION OF CARDIAC OUTPUT COMPROMISES SPLANCHNIC BLOOD FLOW DURING AND FOLLOWING PROLONGED HYPERCARBIA IN THE NEWBORN PIGLET

Episodes of prolonged hypercarbia frequently occur during treatment of respiratory distress in preterm infants and may induce redistribution of cardiac output similar to the redistribution seen during hypoxia. This hypothesis was tested by exposing 7 newborn piglets to four hours of hypercarbia (8,5 - 10 Kpa) followed by return to normocarbia. Cardiac output and organ blood flow (micropheres) were measured during baseline, 1/2, 2 and 4 hours of hypercarbia and 15 and 45 min. following return to normocarbia.