Disorders of ventricular contractility and electrogenesis in the early stage of endotoxin shocked rabbits

This is a report on ventricular contractility and electrogenesis disorders in rabbits, following intravenous injection of E. coli endotoxin at a dose of 2 mg.kg-1. At the 30th min, the right ventricular contractility indices (dP/dtmax)/P and [(dP/dt)/P]max had lower values, whereas end diastolic pressure (EDP), right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) and P(dP/dtmax) showed higher values compared to the initial ones. Most of the left ventricular contractility indices tested showed significantly lower values at the 30th and 60th min of the registration. In the scalar orthogonal ECG leads, at the 5th min an increased Qz amplitude, and at the 60th min an increased Rz amplitude, a decreased Ry amplitude, and QRS complex widening and bradicardia, were registered. In the spatial magnitude curve an increased amplitude of the main vectors of ventricular depolarization was documented. The changes in electrogenesis are interpreted first and foremost by the presence of hemodynamic disorders. The inference is reached that both left and right ventricular dysfunction have been already formed during the initial stage of endotoxin shock.