Coronary Circulation Time in Man

The coronary sinus and the aortic root were catheterized in ten patients without heart disease. Cardiogreen dye was injected into the aortic root and the dye-dilution curve was recorded from the coronary sinus. Coronary circulation time calculated as mean transit time of the dye ranged from 4.7 to 11.2 sec with an average of 8.1±2.1 sec. The appearance time and peak concentration time of the dye were 3.8±1.2 sec and 4.7±1.8 sec, respectively. Although coronary circulation time had no significant correlations with age, body surface area, heart rate, aortic blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, oxygen content of arterial or coronary sinus blood, myocardial oxygen consumption, coronary vascular resistance, and coronary sinus blood flow, it correlated with coronary arteriovenous oxygen difference. It is suggested that coronary circulation time may be shorter than the circulation time through kidney or liver and longer than that through lung or brain, and that coronary circulation time may be an important index in the evaluation of coronary circulation.