Experimental prevention of sudden death from acute coronary artery occlusion in the dog

Abstract

A standardized procedure for the production of an acute coronary occlusion in the dog has been described. This method minimizes extracorporeal stimuli. The authors feel that this method offers a lower mortality than that expected from previous reports and can be utilized as a control study for further experimentation. We feel that this method gives a more accurate mortality rate directly from the coronary occlusion and that in no other published accounts have all of the factors, apart from occlusion and infarction, been taken into consideration in computing the mortality figures. In the control series, sixteen, or 62 per cent, of the twenty-six dogs died within the first 24 hours. The effect of quinidine upon the mortality due to acute coronary occlusion in the dog was studied in twenty-six animals. Twelve, or 46 per cent, died within the first 24 hours. The effect of bilateral thoracic sympathetic ganglionectomy upon the mortality due to acute coronary occlusion in the dog was studied in twenty-eight animals. Eleven, or 39 per cent, died within the first 24 hours. The effect of procaine injection of the left stellate ganglion upon the mortality due to acute coronary occlusion in the dog was studied in fifty animals. Eight, or 16 per cent, died within the first 24 hours. It is concluded that thoracic sympathectomy and procaine injection of the left stellate ganglion protect the dog from ventricular fibrillation and death following coronary occlusion.