Oxygen uptake following deep hypothermia.

Oxygen uptake of the body (Vo2) was measured in 9 children undergoing surgical correction of congenital heart lesions using cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermia at 20 degrees tc with circulatory arrest. Initial levels of Vo2 following circulatory arrest were found to be four times greater than would have been expected from the normal relationship between Vo2 and body temperature, but within 8-10 minutes had fallen to normal levels. The quantity of oxygen taken up by the body during this time is similar to theoretical values for the quantity of oxygen inphysical solution, at 20 degrees C, in the tissues. It is postulated that during deep hypothermia the increased amount of oxygen in physical solution in the body plays an important part in preventing tissue damage during circulatory arrest.