Abstract
The effects of acute A-V fistula of different magnitudes on the cardiovascular dynamics were studied in anesthetized, open-chest dogs. It was found that A-V fistula decreases mean systemic arterial pressure, effective systemic blood flow, total and pulmonary peripheral resistances. On the other hand, A-V fistula increases heart rate, myocardial contractility, total cardiac output, stroke volume, left and right atrial pressures, pulmonary arterial pressure and systemic peripheral resistance. The magnitude of the above hemodynamic changes was essentially in proportion to the size of the fistula. It was also found that A-V fistula decreases superior mesenteric and femoral arterial blood flows and increases the peripheral resistances.
