Preoxygenated hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier HBOC-201 annihilates myocardial ischemia during brief coronary artery occlusion in pigs

Because of their ability to perfuse remote regions and deliver oxygen, hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers (HBOCs) may be considered in the treatment of several ischemic conditions such as acute coronary syndromes or high-risk percutaneous intervention. Here we studied the effects of intracoronary infusion of ex vivo preoxygenated HBOC-201 during brief total coronary artery occlusion (CAOs) on myocardial oxygenation and left ventricular (LV) function in a large animal model and investigated the influence of HBOC-201 temperature and infusion rate on these effects. Thirteen open-chest anesthetized swine were instrumented for measurement of global and regional LV function and metabolism. CAOs were induced by inflating an intracoronary balloon catheter; preoxygenated HBOC-201 (12 g/dL) was infused distally through the central lumen of the balloon catheter. Animals underwent consecutive 3-min CAOs interspersed by 30 min of reperfusion, accompanied by different HBOC-201 infusion rates (0, 15, 23, 30, 40, and 50 ml...