Experimental coronary artery occlusion: ventricular fibrillation and survival as affected by selected drugs and ionic alterations.

The effect of drugs and ions upon the normal heart and upon isolated myocardium has been thoroughly investigated and adequately documented. Increased interest in the application of these substances in a manner which approaches the abnormal clinical situation-that is, following coronary artery occlusion and in various arrythmias-has been demonstrated during the past few years. The stimulus for this recent investigative trend has come primarily from three sources: (1) Fibrillation following coronary artery occlusion and the efforts to devise means of permanently increasing collateral blood supply to the myocardium; (2) Cardiac arrest or ventricular fibrillation during surgery; and (3) Ventricular fibrillation during hypothermia. This report concerns experimental myocardial ischemia produced by acute coronary artery occlusion, the influence of drugs and inorganic ions on survival rates and early fibrillation and the influence on certain ions upon other ions. Materials and Methods