Effect of cardiac arrhythmia on left ventricular and aortic blood pressure parameters in the horse

Transaortic blood pressures were recorded in seven horses using catheter mounted transducers during various types of supraventricular arrhythmia. Changes in left ventricular (LV) and aortic (Ao) pulse contours were associated with variation in pulse interval (PI). When PI lengthened there was a rise in LV end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) associated with a prolonged filling time. In contrast, a long PI resulted in a reduced end diastolic Ao pressure (AoEDP) due to a prolonged arterial 'run off'. LVdP/dt max representing the peak rate of rise of pressure during the isovolumic contraction period was not consistently affected by changes in PI. Stepwise linear regression was used to examine the simultaneous relationships of a number of variables derived from the LV and Ao contours. Peak LV pressure (LVPp) was directly related to AoEDP (seven of seven horses) and LVEDP (four of seven). Ao systolic pulse pressure (SPP) was directly related to LVEDP (four of seven) and inversely related to AoEDP (three of seven). Neither LVPp nor SPP were consistently related to LVdP/dt max. The peak positive gradient between LV and Ao pressures was inversely related to AoEDP (six of seven) and directly related to LVEDP and LVdP/dt max (three of seven). The peak rate of rise of the Ao pressure contour during ejection (AodP/dt max) was inversely related to AoEDP (seven of seven) and directly related to LVEDP (four of seven). It was also directly related to LVdP/dt max in four horses but was inversely related in one. The peak rate of fall of the LV pressure contour during relaxation (-LVdP/dt max) was directly related to LVPp (five of seven).