Regional myocardial blood flow with a reperfusion catheter and an autoperfusion balloon catheter during total coronary occlusion.

We investigated the ability of two new coronary perfusion catheters to maintain regional myocardial blood flow throughout a 90-minute period of occlusion. In 21 dogs (group I = total occlusion control; group II = reperfusion catheter; group III = autoperfusion balloon catheter) we studied regional blood flow, distal coronary perfusion pressure, infarct size, and red blood cell hemolysis after placement of either catheter into the left anterior descending coronary artery. Regional (microsphere) blood flow showed a reduction in transmural blood flow during occlusion in comparison to baseline values (1.07 +/- 0.12 to 0.81 +/- 0.11 and 1.01 +/- 0.16 to 0.73 +/- 0.08 ml/min subendocardial perfusion for groups II and III, respectively). Comparable changes in blood flow were observed in the subepicardial and midmyocardial regions. Distal coronary perfusion pressures were reduced by 26% and 28% for groups II and III, respectively. Both catheters prevented significant infarction and maintained adequate regional myocardial blood flow throughout the 90-minute period of occlusion without significant complications of clotting or destruction of erythrocytes.