Cardiovascular adjustments to various degrees of acute isocapnic hypoxia in dogs.

Cardiovascular responses to various degrees of acute isocapnic hypoxia were determined in spontaneously breathing anesthetized dogs. Cardiac output (CO), heart rate, stroke volume, systemic blood pressure, and systemic vascular resistance were measured at frequent intervals during 20-minute exposures to hypoxia (7% to 17% O2). Cardiac output increased during hypoxia, with the most severe degree of hypoxia producing the greatest increase in CO. Stroke volume increased significantly (P less than 0.05), whereas tachycardia was inconsistent. Systemic vascular resistance declined with hypoxia, with the greatest vasodilation observed with the most severe hypoxia. During the first 3 minutes of hypoxia, CO increased at all 3 degrees of hypoxia, whereas systemic vascular resistance remained relatively unchanged during this initial portion of the hypoxic exposures. Prevention of the hypoxia-induced increase in CO by partial caudal vena caval obstruction (reducing venous return) resulted in a maintenance of systemic vascular resistance at or above the base-line value before hypoxia. Seemingly, hypoxia can increase CO before systemic vasodilation is evident and systemic vasodilation depends, partly, on the increase in CO.