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Published on: March 18, 2019
Effects of ultrasound energy application on cardiac performance in open-chest Guinea pigs
Fumiaki Kuma1, Norihiro Ueda, Hiroyuki Ito
1Department of Medicine and Biosystemic Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
Background:
Although ultrasound (US) is widely used in cardiology, little is known about the effects of US energy on cardiac performance. This study aimed to investigate the mechanical effects of high-intensity continuous US energy (1.0 MHz with 3 different intensities) on cardiac performance.
Methods And Results:
Either left ventricular (LV) pressure or aortic blood flow (ABF) was evaluated in open-chest guinea pigs (n=30) under surface ECG monitoring. LV systolic pressure and ABF increased significantly (ie, maximum percent increases in these parameters were 2.5%, 3.1% and 7.1% for LV systolic pressure and 9.4%, 4.9% and 8.8% for mean ABF at intensities of 0.06, 0.67 and 2.90 W/cm2, respectively). LV end-diastolic pressure was reduced significantly by US (5.3+/-0.9 to 4.8+/-0.8, 5.5 +/-1.3 to 4.8+/-1.0 and 5.8+/-2.0 to 5.0+/-1.2 mmHg, respectively), indicating positive inotropic and lusitropic effects and resultant ABF augmentation. Local temperature was not significantly changed. ECG showed neither chronotropic action nor arrhythmogenesis.
Conclusions:
Although the basic mechanisms of these phenomena remain unclear, this pilot study of the short-term effects of US energy on cardiac performance suggests the possibility of physical therapy for heart failure.
