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Hemodynamics during ventricular tachyarrhythmias
K K Steinbach1, O Merl, K Frohner
13rd Medical and Cardiac Department, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arrhythmia Research, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria.
American Heart Journal
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Ventricular tachycardias reduce cardiac output and arterial pressure. Patient reactions vary, making heart rate monitoring potentially less reliable than pressure monitoring for antitachycardia devices.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Physiology
Background:
- Ventricular tachycardias (VT) significantly impact hemodynamics, causing reduced cardiac output and arterial pressure.
- Clinical symptoms of hemodynamic compromise during VT do not always correlate with the severity of the condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the variable patient responses to rapid heart rate increases during VT.
- To evaluate the efficacy of pressure monitoring versus heart rate monitoring for implantable antitachycardia devices.
Main Methods:
- The study analyzes cardiac and peripheral reactions to induced rapid heart rate changes.
- Hemodynamic parameters including cardiac output and arterial pressure were assessed.
Main Results:
- Significant decreases in cardiac output and arterial pressure were observed during VT.
- Individual patient responses, specifically cardiac and peripheral reactions, varied considerably.
- Clinical manifestations of hemodynamic compromise did not consistently align with measured hemodynamic derangements.
Conclusions:
- Variability in patient's cardiac and peripheral responses to tachycardia complicates the assessment of hemodynamic compromise.
- The findings question the superiority of heart rate monitoring over pressure monitoring for antitachycardia device sensing.