[Noninvasive estimation of left ventricular end-systolic pressure]

A method for noninvasively determining left ventricular (LV) end-systolic pressure (ESP) using carotid pulse tracings and cuff-measured blood pressure was re-evaluated. It was validated during diagnostic cardiac catheterization in 60 patients with cardiovascular diseases. LVESP calculated by this method and systolic blood pressure measured by the cuff were compared with aortic dicrotic notch pressures obtained by a catheter-tip manometer system as true LVESP. The calculated ESP was measured by the following formula; [the ratio of the excursion of dicrotic notch (b) to the peak (a) in carotid pulse tracings: (b/a) x pulse pressure] + diastolic blood pressure. This calculated ESP had a high correlation coefficient with true ESP invasively measured (r = 0.96), but was estimated to be 5.3 +/- 5.0 mmHg less than true ESP. Systolic blood pressure, used as a noninvasive index of ESP, accurately estimated ESP, but it was higher by 14.8 +/- 11.2 mmHg (r = 0.84). Calculated ESP measured by the present method was not affected by age or systemic vascular resistance. This is a reliable noninvasive means of estimating LV end-systolic pressure. Compared with the peak arterial pressure, this is a better parameter for the analysis of LV contractility, such as stress-shortening, and end-systolic pressure-volume relations.