Effects of ventricular fibrillation on coronary blood flow and myocardial metabolism.

Ventricular fibrillation is frequently induced during cardiac surgery to quiet the operative field. The reported effects of fibrillation on the myocardium vary considerably. In an attempt to better define these effects, we subjected 28 dogs to one hour of total normothermic bypass. Myocardial blood flow, lactate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), oxygen consumption, and left ventricular fibrillation was induced in 5 dogs and continuous electrical fibrillation in 7 dogs. These groups were compared to two respective control groups with beating hearts of 8 animals each. Coronary sinus flow, total coronary blood flow, left ventricular flow, myocardial oxygen consumption, and myocardial tissue lactate increased significantly in the fibrillating hearts. Left ventricular dp/dt decreased with fibrillation, but not significantly. It is concluded that the metabolic demands of ventricular fibrillation exceed the increase in coronary blood flow, when compared to demands of the beating heart, and that decreased left ventricular performance may result.