Effects of preload on regional nonischemic end-systolic performance

Nonischemic segmental performance, assessed by end-systolic measures of shortening and thickening, decreases during ischemia. These changes in performance are likely to be dependent on the size, and, possibly, the site of the ischemic zone. This study was designed to examine the effect of preload, independently from ischemic zone size, on nonischemic end-systolic performance.

Twelve beagles were instrumented with sonomicrometers and micromanometer pressure gauges. End-systolic pressure length and thickness relationship data were obtained during vena caval balloon inflation. Control data were obtained both in left anterior descending and in left circumflex regions at left ventricular end-diastolic pressures of 5, 10 and 15 mmHg. The left circumflex artery was occluded for 90 s and nonischemic end-systolic pressure length and thickness data were obtained at each diastolic pressure. A 20 min recovery period was allowed between coronary occlusions.

The isovolumic bulge in the ischemic area was more pronounced at an end-diastolic pressure of 5 mmHg than it was at an end-diastolic pressure of 15 mmHg. The slope of the nonischemic end-systolic pressure length and thickness relationships decreased at an end-diastolic pressure of 5 mmHg, whereas at 10 and 15 mmHg the slope of these relationships did not change significantly. The shift in the nonischemic end-systolic pressure-length relationship to the right was more pronounced at a low end-diastolic pressure (5 mmHg) than it was at a high end-diastolic pressure (15 mmHg). Similarly, the extent of the shift in the end-systolic pressure-thickness relationship to the left was more marked at a low end-diastolic pressure than it was at the higher end-diastolic pressure.

Regional ischemia decreases the end-systolic performance of the nonischemic region. The extent of the shift and the degree to which the slopes of the nonischemic end-systolic relations decrease are influenced by loading conditions.