[Experimental model for determination of an "in vivo" area at risk accounting for the quantity and distribution of collateral flow (author's transl)].

To determine the influence of interventions on infarct size numerous studies have attempted a comparison between treatment and control groups. This has been complicated by the great variability in the quantity of necrosis due to the differences in coronary bed size and collateral flow. An experimental model is presented in which it is possible to determine an "area at risk of infarction" at several time points during the evolution of the infarct. This model allows to estimate infarct size that may be expected under the present conditions, prior to interventions, early, in vivo and in the same experiment. It is possible to quantitate topographically changes in collateral flow and to investigate the effect of intervention in the same experiment. We found a correlation of life-threatening arrhythmias including ventricular fibrillation with the size of the "myocardium at risk of infarction" and with the size of the infarcts measured post mortem. Several beneficial interventions were studied.