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Venous function of the leg during atrial arrhythmias
1Department of Medicine, Central Hospital, Halmstad.
Insights
Atrial arrhythmia alters calf venous function, increasing venous volume and outflow upon return to sinus rhythm. This venous change is more significant in patients with heart disease, potentially indicating a deep vein thrombosis risk.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Venous Hemodynamics
Background:
- Atrial fibrillation and flutter (atrial arrhythmia) can reduce cardiac output.
- Understanding the impact of arrhythmias on venous function is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in calf venous volume and outflow during atrial arrhythmia and after conversion to sinus rhythm.
- To compare these venous function changes between patients with and without organic heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Strain gauge plethysmography was used to measure venous volume and outflow.
- 28 patients were studied during atrial fibrillation/flutter and after conversion to sinus rhythm.
Main Results:
- Calf venous volume and outflow significantly increased after conversion to sinus rhythm.
- The increase in venous parameters was more pronounced in patients with organic heart disease.
Conclusions:
- Atrial arrhythmia is associated with altered venous function, potentially compensating for reduced cardiac output.
- Altered venous function may represent a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis in patients with organic heart disease.
Abstract:
Venous volume and venous outflow of the calf were studied with strain gauge plethysmography during atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter and after conversion to sinus rhythm in 28 patients. These parameters increased significantly after conversion to sinus rhythm and the increase was more pronounced in patients with organic heart disease compared to patients without. It is concluded that atrial arrhythmia is associated with an altered venous function, which may compensate for the fall in cardiac output induced by the arrhythmia and also may be a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis in patients with organic heart disease.