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Evaluation of myocardial function
1Department of Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|July 1, 1975
Summary
Assessing myocardial contractility involves various indices, but none are perfect. Controlling preload, afterload, and heart rate is crucial for valid measurements of heart muscle function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Physiology
Background:
- Myocardial contractility assessment can be performed on isolated muscle, whole hearts, or in intact patients.
- Numerous indices exist, but each has limitations and is not entirely independent of influencing factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and discuss various indices used for assessing myocardial contractility.
- To highlight the importance of controlling preload, afterload, and heart rate for accurate measurements.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on myocardial contractility assessment.
- Discussion of different indices and their relationship to preload, afterload, and heart rate.
Main Results:
- Indices of contractility include those reflecting isometric contraction (e.g., pressure change rate) and ejection phenomena (e.g., ejection fraction).
- No single index is perfect, and all are influenced by preload, afterload, and heart rate.
Conclusions:
- Accurate assessment of myocardial contractility requires careful control of preload, afterload, and heart rate.
- Many clinical studies on myocardial function lack validity due to failure to control these critical variables.