• O S Brattli, K Nystuen, O D Saether, P Aadahl, J E Grønbech, and H O Myhre.
• Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway.
• Scand. J. Clin. Lab. Invest. 2007 Jan 1;67(5):526-35.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of thoracic aortic cross-clamping on blood perfusion of the brain, spinal cord, heart, muscular tissue and visceral organs.Material And MethodsNine pigs underwent 30 min cross-clamping of the descending thoracic aorta. Multiple coloured microspheres (15.0 microm +/- 0.1) were infused into the left ventricle before and during aortic cross-clamping (XC) and after declamping (DC). Tissue samples were analysed by spectrophotometry.ResultsBlood perfusion of the middle and lower segments of the spinal cord was significantly reduced during aortic XC. Perfusion of the brain was not significantly altered by aortic XC, while perfusion of myocardium increased 3-fold. During XC, perfusion of the deltoid muscle and diaphragm increased 5-fold and 13-fold, respectively, while a decrease was found in the gluteus muscle. Renal blood flow was significantly reduced during XC. Finally, XC induced a significant decrease of perfusion in the bowel, spleen, liver and pancreas.ConclusionDuring XC of the thoracic aorta, the perfusion of the muscular tissue was significantly increased proximal to the level of XC. The circulation of the brain was unchanged, probably because of autoregulatory mechanisms. Blood perfusion of the myocardium increased 3-fold during XC.

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