Effects of thiopentone on the canine coronary circulation in acute experimental myocardial ischaemia.

Acute myocardial ischaemia was induced in five greyhounds by ligation of the anterior descending branch of the left main coronary artery. Changes in oxygen availability and consumption in the ischaemic area in response to thiopentone 10 mg kg-1 were compared with corresponding changes in non-ischaemic myocardium supplied by the circumflex artery. Despite a 40% reduction in arterial pressure, there were no significant changes in the oxygen availability/consumption ratio in either normal or ischaemic areas.