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Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Closed Chest Biventricular Pressure-Volume Loop Recordings with Admittance Catheters in a Porcine Model
Published on: May 18, 2021
Acute Effects of Pacing at Different Ventricular Sites on Left Ventricular Rotational Mechanics in a Porcine Model
Wei Zhou1, Peyman Benharash2, Jason Han Chua1
1Departments of *Anesthesiology.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of pacing at different ventricular sites on hemodynamics and left ventricular (LV) rotational mechanics using speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) in a porcine model.
Design:
A prospective laboratory investigation.
Setting:
University research laboratory.
Participants:
Yorkshire pigs.
Interventions:
In 9 pigs, after midline sternotomy, epicardial pacing was performed from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), right ventricular apex (RVA), and LV free wall.
Measurements And Main Results:
Two-dimensional STE and conductance catheter-derived LV pressure-volume measurements were made to determine the impact of pacing from various sites on LV rotational parameters (twist/untwist) and hemodynamics. RVOT pacing caused the least decrease in end-systolic pressure from baseline (-9.5%), when compared with RVA (-19.1%) and LV (-23.4%). Systolic and diastolic parameters (Emax, Tau) also were different among RVOT (4.7±0.8 mmHg/mL, 32±4 ms), RVA (3.9±0.7 mmHg/mL, 37±6 ms), and LV sites (3.6±0.8 mmHg/mL, 42±7 ms). Similar to the effects of pacing on hemodynamics, RVOT pacing better preserved LV twist (11.1±1.8 v 8.6±1.7, 5.9±0.7 °) and untwisting rate (64.6±8.5 v 56.2±5.3, 48.2±8.5 °/s) when compared with RV apical pacing and LV pacing. Furthermore, prolongation of conduction from LV lateral to anteroseptal at LV base (26.5±3.8 v 13.8±3.3 ms, p<0.05) and LV midpapillary muscle level (35.6±5.6 v 14.1±2.4 ms, p<0.05) was observed with LV pacing compared with RVOT pacing.
Conclusions:
The present data showed that the LV twist/untwist and cardiac systolic and diastolic function were least affected by RVOT pacing. This finding may be explained by the proximity of this location to the native ventricular conduction system.

