Linear end-systolic pressure-volume relationship during pulsatile left ventricular bypass represents native heart function

Noninvasive evaluation of left ventricular elastance according to pressure-volume curves modeling in arterial hypertension

End-systolic left ventricular (LV) elastance (E_es) has been previously calculated and validated invasively using LV pressure-volume (P-V) loops. Noninvasive methods have been proposed, but clinical application remains complex. The aims of the present study were to 1) estimate E_es according to modeling of the LV P-V curve during ejection ("ejection P-V curve" method) and validate our method with existing published LV P-V loop data and 2) test the clinical applicability of noninvasively detecting a difference in E_es between normotensive and hypertensive subjects. On the basis of the ejection P-V curve and a linear relationship between elastance and time during ejection, we used a nonlinear least-squares method to fit the pressure waveform. We then computed the slope and intercept of time-varying elastance as well as the volume intercept (V₀). As a validation, 22 P-V loops obtained from previous invasive studies were digitized and analyzed using the ejection P-V curve method. To test clinical applicability, ejection P-V curves were obtained from 33 hypertensive subjects and 32 normotensive subjects with carotid tonometry and real-time three-dimensional echocardiography during the same procedure. A good univariate relationship (r² = 0.92, P < 0.005) and good limits of agreement were found between the invasive calculation of E_es and our new proposed ejection P-V curve method. In hypertensive patients, an increase in arterial elastance (E_a) was compensated by a parallel increase in E_es without change in E_a/E_es In addition, the clinical reproducibility of our method was similar to that of another noninvasive method. In conclusion, E_es and V₀ can be estimated noninvasively from modeling of the P-V curve during ejection. This approach was found to be reproducible and sensitive enough to detect an expected increase in LV contractility in hypertensive patients. Because of its noninvasive nature, this methodology may have clinical implications in various disease states.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The use of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography-derived left ventricular volumes in conjunction with carotid tonometry was found to be reproducible and sensitive enough to detect expected differences in left ventricular elastance in arterial hypertension. Because of its noninvasive nature, this methodology may have clinical implications in various disease states.

Effect of assisted circulation on left ventricular performance in a canine model

BACKGROUND

Little is known about left ventricular performance during venoarterial bypass and left heart bypass (LHB) after cross-clamping the descending thoracic aorta. We evaluated the effects of venoarterial bypass and LHB on ventricular load optimization and left ventricular work efficiency.

METHODS

We used the left ventricular conductance catheter and a micromanometer in 7 anesthetized mongrel dogs. We assessed preload by the end-diastolic volume, afterload by the effective arterial elastance, and left ventricular contractile properties by the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship. In addition, optimal ventricular arterial coupling (ratio of effective arterial elastance to slope of end-systolic pressure-volume relationship) and left ventricular work efficiency (ratio of external work to pressure-volume area) were calculated.

RESULTS

The decrease in preload was much greater with LHB than venoarterial bypass. There were no significant differences in afterload and left ventricular contractility between venoarterial bypass and LHB. The ventricular arterial coupling during LHB was near 0.50 (0.69 +/- 0.16) in the "best heart" condition (effective arterial elastance = slope of end-systolic pressure-volume relationship/2), whereas the work efficiency during LHB was at maximum (0.73 +/- 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

We conclude that LHB has a more beneficial effect on left ventricular performance after cross-clamping of the descending thoracic aorta.