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Left and right ventricular diastolic function during acute pericardial tamponade
O A Smiseth1, M A Frais, M Junemann
1Department of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada.
Clinical Physiology (Oxford, England)
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Pericardial tamponade shifts cardiac pressure-volume relations by increasing pericardial pressure, without altering myocardial compliance. Volume expansion during tamponade minimally impacts left and right ventricular volumes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Physiology
Background:
- Pericardial tamponade significantly impacts cardiac function.
- Understanding pressure-volume (P-V) relations is crucial for assessing cardiac performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of acute pericardial tamponade on left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) intracavitary and transmural P-V relations.
- To evaluate how changes in blood volume during tamponade influence LV and RV volumes.
Main Methods:
- Experiments conducted on 11 anesthetized dogs.
- LV and RV volumes measured using computed tomography (CT) or sonomicrometry for diameter.
- Pressures measured in the pericardium, aorta, and ventricles; pericardial infusion used to induce tamponade.
Main Results:
- Pericardial tamponade caused a left and upward shift in LV and RV intracavitary P-V relations, attributed to increased pericardial pressure (PP).
- No change was observed in LV and RV transmural P-V relations, indicating preserved myocardial compliance.
- Blood volume expansion during tamponade resulted in minimal increases in LV and RV volumes.
Conclusions:
- Acute pericardial tamponade alters intracavitary diastolic P-V relations due to elevated PP.
- Myocardial compliance remains unchanged during tamponade.
- Volume loading is minimally effective in increasing ventricular volumes under tamponade conditions.