Relationship of intramyocardial oxygen tension and epicardial ST segment changes following acute coronary artery ligation: effects of coronary perfusion pressure.

The relationship between the magnitude of epicardial ST-segment elevation and intramyocardial oxygen tension after coronary artery ligation was examined in 11 dogs at various coronary perfusion pressures. The ST map significantly reflected local intramyocardial oxygen tension, and the level of coronary perfusion pressure proved to be an important determinant of both local myocardial oxygen balance and the magnitude of ischaemic injury.