Measurement of myocardial PCO2 with a microelectrode: its relation to coronary sinus PCO2.

A micro-PCO2 electrode, with dimensions of 1 x 10 mm, and a 63% response time of 14 s was inserted into the left ventricular myocardium of the pentobarbital-anesthetized dog. Continuous recordings were made of myocardial PCO2 (PmCO2), arterial PCO2 (PaCO2), and coronary sinus PCO2 (CSPCO2) during variation of respiratory rate. PmCO2 and CSPCO2 were compared at varying coronary flow. PmCO2 was similar to and closely followed changes in CSPCO2. The difference between PmCO2 and CSPCO2 was -0.52 +/- 3.63 (SD) mmHg, and PmCO2 exceeded PaCO2 by 20.69 +/- 5.12 mmHg. After coronary occlusion, PmCO2, rose promptly, but CSPCO2 was only slightly elevated until the occlusion was released, when a CO2 efflux into the coronary sinus occurred. It is concluded that the electrode measures extracellular PCO2 and that extracellular and myocardial PCO2 are essentially equal. PmCO2 rises rapidly following coronary occlusion.