Endotoxaemic myocardial dysfunction: the role of coronary driving pressure in subendocardial perfusion

To investigate the role of coronary driving pressure (CDP) in myocardial microcirculatory blood flow during sepsis. We hypothesised that in septic shock there is an impaired autoregulation of microcirculation, and blood flow is totally dependent on CDP. We analysed the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced shock on myocardial microcirculation, separating subendocardial and epicardial areas. We then studied the effect of CDP increases using noradrenaline (NOR) or metaraminol (Aramine [ARA]) on myocardial microcirculation and function, and we analysed the effect of volume infusion on CDP and myocardial function.

Endotoxaemia was induced in male Wistar rats by an intraperitoneal injection of LPS 10 mg/kg. Animals were divided into a control (CT) group, an LPS-injected group, and an LPS-injected group treated with saline fluid, NOR or ARA.

Ninety minutes later, a haemodynamic evaluation was performed. NOR or ARA were used to manage the mean arterial pressure (MAP) and CDP, and we inserted a catheter into the left ventricle to measure cardiac parameters. To measure blood flow in the myocardium and other organs, microspheres were introduced into the left ventricle using an infusion pump.

After LPS treatment, left ventricular (LV) systolic function (dP/dt max) and diastolic function (dP/dt min) decreased by 34% and 15%, respectively, and load-independent indices (LV contractility in ejection phase and dP/dt max÷end-diastolic volume) were reduced. The CDP was also reduced (by 58%) in the endotoxaemic rats. Myocardial blood flow was reduced (by 80%) in animals with an MAP≤65 mmHg. NOR increased the CDP (LPS, 38 mmHg [SEM, 2 mmHg]; LPS+NOR, 59 mmHg [SEM, 3 mmHg]) and microcirculatory perfusion (LPS, 2 mL/min/g tissue [SEM, 0.6 mL/min/g]; LPS+NOR, 6.2 mL/min/g [SEM, 0.8 mL/min/g]). ARA was also effective in improve microcirculation but saline volume infusion was ineffective in improving CDP or myocardial function. CDP showed a significant correlation with subendocardial blood flow.

Myocardial blood flow in the LV subendocardium and the right ventricle decreases in endotoxaemic rats. Increasing CDP improves myocardial blood flow and function. Thus, in endotoxaemia, microcirculatory blood flow is pressure dependent, suggesting that it may be beneficial to treat patients with sepsis using a higher CDP.