[The influence of afterload on the normal and ischemic myocardium in the dog]

The influence of an instantaneous increase in afterload on the hemodynamics and regional myocardial function was studied in five anesthetized dogs before and after occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. By inflation of an intaaortic balloon during single ejections, an instantaneous increase in afterload was obtained. From biplane cineventriculograms, the following parameters were calculated: left ventricular volumes (EDV, ESV), stroke volume (SV), ejection fraction (EF). Mean circumferential fiber shortening (V CF) was calculated in three ventricular diameters in the RAO projection. Simultaneously PLV, PLVED, PAo, and LV dp/dt were obtained. In the control ventriculograms, an increased afterload (delta PLV 16.4 +/- 8 mm Hg) caused only a minor decrease of SV (2.6 +/- 2.5 ml), EF (4.2 +/- 2.4%), and V CF (0.20 circ . s -1). After coronary occlusion (delta PLV 14.5 +/- 6.7 mm Hg),the reduction of SV (5.9 +/- 2.7 ml) and EF (8.2 +/- 2.6%) was more pronounced. This was caused mainly by a significant reduction of V CF in the center of ischemia (delta V CF -93%). For the evaluation of regional myocardial function by ventriculography, the marked influence of afterload in ischemic areas must be taken into consideration. This is of special interest in comparative ventriculograms, such as those before and after coronary bypass surgery.