Related Experiment Videos
Left ventricular pressure effects on right ventricular pressure and volume outflow
R J Damiano1, J L Cox, J E Lowe
1Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
Catheterization and Cardiovascular Diagnosis
|April 1, 1990
Summary
The left ventricle (LV) significantly assists right ventricular (RV) function, even when RV damage is extensive. This LV assistance is crucial for maintaining RV pump function and may explain responses to myocardial infarction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Cardiac Mechanics
- Hemodynamics
Background:
- Right ventricular (RV) free wall destruction causes minimal hemodynamic changes, suggesting external support.
- RV pressure and flow derivatives exhibit double-peaked waveforms, implying interaction with left ventricular (LV) activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the extent of LV assistance to RV contraction.
- To investigate the influence of varying RV-LV contraction timing on RV function.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an electrically isolated canine RV preparation on total cardiopulmonary bypass.
- Varied the timing interval between RV and LV contractions to assess functional contributions.
Main Results:
- Double-peaked waveforms for RV pressure and pulmonary flow were observed across a wide range of RV-LV pacing intervals.
- A significant peak in RV derivatives consistently correlated with maximal LV pressure rise, independent of RV contraction timing.
- LV-associated derivative peaks were significantly larger than RV-associated peaks when contraction timing varied.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrates a substantial, inherent LV contribution to RV systolic function.
- This LV assistance helps explain the RV's functional response to conditions like myocardial infarction.