Effect of rate of rise of blood alcohol on outcome of cardiac injury.
In our initial study in anesthetized dogs, single 7-minute intravenous alcohol doses caused a 67% mortality with cardiac impact at 65 mg% blood alcohol. In the next study, equally spaced oral doses over 40 minutes resulted in only a 17% mortality at an equivalent blood alcohol level and injury severity. Intravenous doses of a 50% ethanol/isotonic saline solution were given at equally spaced intervals over 40 minutes to generate peak blood alcohol levels and rates of rise equivalent to the oral study. Impacts with a velocity of 10 m/s and a contact compression of 5 cm were delivered to 85-90% of the right pericardial surface. The 25% mortality from alcohol and trauma was comparable to that observed in the oral study. These results attest to the importance of the rate of alcohol administration over the route on the outcome of cardiac injury.
Desiderio
M A
MA
General Motors Research Laboratories, Biomedical Science Department, Warren, Michigan 48090-9058.
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D004562:Electrocardiography; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000097:blood* / Q000401:mortality; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D011379:Prognosis
D000431:Ethanol