THE INFLUENCE OF VENOUS INFUSION OF GASEOUS CARBON DIOXIDE ON OXYGEN SATURATION OF ARTERIAL BLOOD AND CARDIAC OUTPUT IN THE ANESTHETIZED DOG

摘要

The formation of gas bubbles in the blood stream has been a problem of high-altitude flight. When gaseous bubbles of oxygen and nitrogen are infused into the venous system, profound injury results. Gaseous CO2 however may be infused at rates of 100 ml. per minute without irreversible damage. A notable feature of the procedure is reduction of arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin. Cardiac out-put was measured in dogs before, during, and after intravenous infusion of gaseous. CO. Slight decreases in output occurred but not great enough to indicate a significant impairment in blood flow through the pulmonary system. Infused CO2 moves rapidly into the expired gas. Lowered oxygen saturation of blood following infusion of CO2 can be explained in part by Bohr effect. However, this does not account entirely for level of oxygen unsaturation and something more than Bohr effect seems involved.