Ventricular contractility evaluated by mechanical perturbation of the myocardium--experimental and clinical approach...

Small amplitude mechanical vibration has been reported to depress the function of the isolated left ventricle in an amplitude dependent manner. We examined, 1) contractility and preload dependency of the magnitude of functional depression (VID) by applying 50 Hz, 2 mm amplitude vibration to the epicardium of the canine left ventricle and 2) whether VID is present in the failing human ventricle. The magnitude of VID was independent of preload in the physiological range of LV volume showing peak LV pressure greater than 75 mmHg, and VID was correlated with Emax at each inotropic state. In the in-situ condition, VID appeared only in the failing condition with a sensitive increase at a mild level of heart failure. In a study during routine cardiac catheterization (n = 27), the presence of VID has been demonstrated in the human ventricle (n = 18). The magnitude of VID was correlated with ejection fraction (EF) as, VID in peak LV pressure (mmHg) = 80.6 - 110 x EF, r = 0.84, p less than 0.01 in patients with EF less than or equal to 0.7 (n = 14). Therefore, we concluded that VID could be a clinical tool for evaluation of mild heart failure.