The effects of dopamine, ephinephrine, and esmolol on the hemodynamic energy in terms of the energy equivalent pressure

Comparison of Hemodynamic Energy between Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene and Dacron Artificial Vessels

Background

Artificial grafts such as polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron) and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) are used for various cardiovascular surgical procedures. The compliance properties of prosthetic grafts could affect hemodynamic energy, which can be measured using the energy-equivalent pressure (EEP) and surplus hemodynamic energy (SHE). We investigated changes in the hemodynamic energy of prosthetic grafts.

Methods

In a simulation test, the changes in EEP for these grafts were estimated using COMSOL MULTIPHYSICS. The Young modulus, Poisson ratio, and density were used to analyze the grafts’ material properties, and pre- and post-graft EEP values were obtained by computing the product of the pressure and velocity. In an in vivo study, Dacron and ePTFE grafts were anastomosed in an end-to-side fashion on the descending thoracic aorta of swine. The pulsatile pump flow was fixed at 2 L/min. Real-time flow and pressure were measured at the distal part of each graft, while clamping the other graft and the descending thoracic aorta. EEP and SHE were calculated and compared.

Results

In the simulation test, the mean arterial pressure decreased by 39% for all simulations. EEP decreased by 42% for both grafts, and by around 55% for the native blood vessels after grafting. The in vivo test showed no significant difference between both grafts in terms of EEP and SHE.

Conclusion

The post-graft hemodynamic energy was not different between the Dacron and ePTFE grafts. Artificial grafts are less compliant than native blood vessels; however, they can deliver pulsatile blood flow and hemodynamic energy without any significant energy loss.

Hemodynamic energy changes after ischemia-reperfusion injury in an aortic cross-clamped rabbit model

Blood flow pulsatility can be quantified using the concept of hemodynamic energy. Because ischemia-reperfusion injury is known to affect microcirculation as well as vascular tone detrimentally, we hypothesized that vascular tone changes after ischemia-reperfusion injury would influence pulsatility of the blood vessels. We investigated the changes in pulsatility after ischemia-reperfusion injury using hemodynamic energy parameters-energy equivalent pressure (EEP) and surplus hemodynamic energy (SHE). Twenty-one New Zealand white male rabbits were divided into three groups. Ischemia group (I group, n = 7) underwent 3 hours of ischemia by clamping the abdominal aorta. Reperfusion group (I/R group, n = 7) underwent 2 hours of ischemia followed by 1 hour of reperfusion. Control group (C group, n = 7) underwent a sham procedure. Observed parameters were mean arterial pressure (MAP), mean blood flow (MBF), pulse pressure (PP), EEP, and SHE, measured at baseline, during ischemia (60 minutes after clamping), and reperfusion 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after clamp release. In I group, all parameters, except MBF, were higher during ischemia than at baseline. In I/R group, all except MBF were higher during ischemia. After reperfusion, MBF increased and the other parameters decreased. Interestingly, PP and EEP showed only minor changes during reperfusion (p = NS), whereas SHE decreased abruptly immediately after reperfusion and then gradually recovered to its baseline level. Surplus hemodynamic energy showed more significant changes than PP or EEP during reperfusion period (p < 0.05). In C group, no changes were noted throughout the observation period. Ischemia-reperfusion injury reduces vascular pulsatility. In this study, SHE was found to be a more sensitive hemodynamic energy parameter during ischemia-reperfusion injury than PP or EEP.