Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026

Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Experimental Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Published on: June 27, 2025
Right ventricular stroke volume variation: a tool to assess right ventricular volume responsiveness
J C Kubitz1, H P Richter, C Petersen
1Department of Anesthesiology, Center of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Hamburg-Eppendorf University Hospital, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany - jkubitz@uke.de.
Background:
So far, only left ventricular functional preload indices are used as a routine to assess volume responsiveness. Right ventricular (RV) functional preload indices have been described, but offer no continuous monitoring.
Methods:
Following ethical approval, a pressure-induced right ventricular failure (RVF) was induced with continuous infusion of a thromboxane-A2-analogue (U46619) in 15 anesthetized and ventilated pigs. Before and after increasing mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) by 50%, right ventricular stroke volume variation (RVSVV) was assessed with an ultrasonic pulmonary artery flow probe. Measurements were repeated following volume depletion (- 300 mL) and stepwise retransfusion (200 mL of whole blood and 200 mL of a colloid solution).
Results:
A significant and systematic increase in RVSVV during induction of RVF was observed. Volume depletion led to an increase in RVSVV and re-transfusion led to a decrease in RVSVV. RVSVV was higher and a significant decrease in RVSVV was present in all animals experiencing an increase in CO by more than 5% during retransfusion.
Conclusion:
RVSVV seems to reflect volume requirement of the right ventricle and it might prove a reliable parameter to assess volume responsiveness in RVF.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Stroke Volume
Preload refers to the degree of stretch on the heart before it contracts. It's analogous to the stretching of a rubber band; the more it's stretched, the more forcefully it snaps back. This concept is encapsulated in the Frank-Starling law of the...
Cardiac Output II: Effect of Stroke Volume on Cardiac Output
Preload
Preload refers to the initial elongation of the cardiac myocytes before contraction and is related to the volume of blood filling the heart at the end of diastole, or end-diastolic volume. The...
Cardiac Output and Stroke Volume
In an average resting adult male, the typical cardiac...
Respiratory Volumes
Tidal Volume (TV) Tidal volume (TV) is the air inhaled or exhaled in a...
Pulse
Pulse Rate and its Significance
Pulse rate, often measured in beats per minute (bpm), reflects the heart rate (HR), which is influenced by numerous factors such as stress, physical activity, and hormonal changes. A normal resting adult pulse rate falls...

