Mapping of left ventricular blood flow with radioactive microspheres in experimental coronary artery occlusion

Radioactive microspheres were used to determine the pattern of regional left ventricular blood flow 30-60 min after acute coronary artery occlusion in nine dogs. Flow was found to be markedly reduced in the centre but only moderately reduced toward the edge of the ischaemic lesion, while in surrounding non-ischaemic myocardium flow was greater than normal. Flow was evenly distributed through the ventricular wall in non-ischaemic areas, but in ischaemic ones there was a disproportionate reduction in flow to the inner half of the wall.