Related Experiment Videos
Contribution of each ventricular wall to ventricular interdependence.
W P Santamore1, M Constantinescu, B M Minczak
1Section of Cardiology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Basic Research in Cardiology
|July 1, 1988
Summary
Altering ventricular wall or septum compliance significantly changes how the ventricles mechanically interact during diastole. These findings highlight how heart diseases affecting regional compliances can impact ventricular coupling.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Biomechanical Engineering
Background:
- Ventricular pressure and volume changes influence the contralateral ventricle.
- Regional ventricular compliances are key determinants of this mechanical coupling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how acute alterations in ventricular free wall and septal compliances affect diastolic mechanical coupling between the ventricles.
Main Methods:
- Isolated canine hearts were used with balloons for pressure and volume manipulation in each ventricle.
- Glutaraldehyde injections into coronary arteries selectively altered regional ventricular compliances.
- Ventricular pressure and volume transfer were quantified before and after induced compliance changes.
Main Results:
- Right ventricular free wall compliance changes increased pressure and volume transfer between ventricles.
- Septal compliance alterations significantly depressed inter-ventricular pressure and volume transfer.
- Left ventricular free wall compliance changes also increased inter-ventricular mechanical coupling.
Conclusions:
- Selective alterations in ventricular wall and septal compliances significantly modify diastolic mechanical coupling.
- These findings suggest that changes in regional compliance are crucial in conditions affecting one side of the heart.