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Animal studies indicate that desflurane and isoflurane have similar hemodynamic effects when administered in equipotent anesthetic concentrations. The authors compared desflurane and isoflurane, used as primary anesthetics for patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery whose left ventricular ejection fractions were greater than 0.34. After induction of anesthesia with thiopental (dose 180 +/- 45 mg [mean +/- standard deviation]) and fentanyl, 10 micrograms.kg-1, either desflurane or isoflurane was administered to maintain systolic blood pressure within 70-120% of, and heart rates less than 120% of, the patients' average preoperative values. If adjusting the end-tidal anesthetic concentration within the range of 0-2.0 MAC could not maintain these predefined hemodynamic limits, additional fentanyl or vasoactive drugs were used. Induction and maintenance of anesthesia was accompanied by a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure in both groups (desflurane 97 +/- 12 mmHg at control, decreasing to 71 +/- 5 mmHg during skin preparation; isoflurane 95 +/- 9 mmHg at control, 74 +/- 9 mmHg during skin preparation). One minute after sternotomy, mean arterial pressure in the isoflurane group had returned to control, 97 +/- 9 mmHg, which was significantly greater than in the desflurane group, 87 +/- 12 mmHg. Systolic arterial pressure was also significantly greater in the isoflurane group 1 min after intubation, during skin preparation, and 1 min after sternotomy. Otherwise, the hemodynamic effects of these volatile agents were similar. There were no differences between groups in the incidence of ECG changes indicative of myocardial ischemia prior to cardiopulmonary bypass, perioperative myocardial infarction, or perioperative mortality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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The aim of the study was to determine the effect of acute pericardial tamponade on left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) intracavitary and transmural pressure-volume (P-V) relations and to assess the effect of changing blood volume during tamponade on LV and RV volumes. The experiments were done in 11 acutely instrumented anaesthetized dogs in which LV and RV volumes were determined by computed tomography (CT) (n = 5) and LV and RV diameters by sonomicrometry (n = 6). Pressures were measured in the pericardium (balloon transducer), in the aorta and in the ventricles. Incremental pericardial infusion (up to 180 ml) caused a progressive left and upward shift of the LV and the RV intracavitary P-V relationship. This shift was entirely due to increased pericardial pressure (PP). The induction of tamponade caused no change in the LV and RV transmural P-V relationship. During tamponade with ventricular filling pressures above 10-15 mmHg, blood volume expansion caused only minimal increase in LV and RV volumes. In conclusion, pericardial tamponade shifted the LV and the RV intracavitary diastolic P-V relation by increasing PP. However, there was no change in the transmural P-V relationship, indicating unchanged myocardial compliance. Volume loading caused only minimal increase in LV and RV volumes during tamponade.

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A case report is presented of a 54-year old female patient with a history of acute-onset sharp retrosternal chest pain. Clinical examination was unremarkable, but the 12-lead ECG showed anterior T-wave inversion and the chest x-ray film showed gaseous dilatation of the stomach. The patient's symptoms and electrocardiographic abnormalities resolved immediately after gastric decompression. Further investigations revealed no evidence of coronary artery disease. This case report documents marked T-wave changes and atypical chest pain with gastric dilatation. The possible causes of the ECG changes and chest pain are discussed.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the dependence of tau, the time constant of left ventricular (LV) isovolumic relaxation, on pericardial pressure and to compare values of tau as determined by the methods of previous investigators and by a standard exponential curve fit. All of the more recent methods involve an additional parameter--the pressure to which the exponential relaxation finally declines (PB, the pressure intercept in the method of Craig and Murgo and the asymptote in the exponential fits). An additional purpose of the study was to determine the relation of these parameters to pericardial pressure. In eight closed-chest anesthetized dogs, tau was calculated from intracavitary (Plv) and transmural LV pressure (Plv = Plv-Pper) by each method as pericardial (Pper) and LV end-diastolic pressure were changed by pericardial infusion and intravenous volume loading. The time constant determined by the method of Weiss et al was dependent on pericardial pressure; the time constants determined by the other methods were not. PB and the asymptotes were found to be similar and to increase almost equally with pericardial pressure. When pericardial pressure was zero, these values were approximately -20 mm Hg. Thus, both these parameters seem to indicate the same baseline pressure, a pressure that increases pari passu with pericardial pressure. Reported changes in the value of tau calculated from intracavitary LV pressure by the method of Weiss et al may reflect factors other than changes in LV diastolic function.

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STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of supplemental oxygen on Cheyne-Stokes respiration, nocturnal oxygen saturation (SaO2), and sleep in male patients with severe, stable congestive heart failure. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. SETTING: Patients referred from outpatient cardiology clinics of two teaching hospitals. PATIENTS: Sequential sample of nine outpatients with severe, stable congestive heart failure. INTERVENTIONS: For each patient, sleep studies (after an adaptation night) from two consecutive randomized nights were compared; one study was done while the patient breathed compressed air and the other while the patient breathed oxygen (O2). Compressed air and oxygen were both administered through nasal cannulae at 2 to 3 L/min. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Cheyne-Stokes respiration, defined as periodic breathing with apnea or hypopnea, was found in all patients. Low-flow oxygen significantly reduced the duration of Cheyne-Stokes respiration (50.7% +/- 12.0% to 24.2% +/- 5.4% total sleep time), mainly during stage 1 NREM (non-rapid eye movement) sleep (21.3% +/- 7.1% to 6.7% +/- 2.3% total sleep time) with no significant change during stage 2 sleep, slow-wave sleep, or REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. Although patients had normal SaO2 (96.0% +/- 1.7%) while awake, severe sleep hypoxemia was common; breathing oxygen reduced the amount of time that SaO2 was less than 90% from 22.3% +/- 8.0% to 2.41% +/- 1.93% of total sleep time. Sleep, disrupted to a variable extent in all patients, improved with oxygen therapy: There was an increase in total sleep time from 275.3 min +/- 36.6 to 324.6 min +/- 23.3; a reduction in the proportion of stage 1 sleep (27.6% +/- 5.8% total sleep time to 15.2% +/- 2.6% total sleep time); and a reduction in the number of arousals (30.4/h +/- 8.0 to 13.8/h +/- 1.9). The apnea-hypopnea index was reduced from 30.0 +/- 4.7 to 18.9 +/- 2.4 with oxygen breathing. CONCLUSION: In severe, stable congestive heart failure, nocturnal oxygen therapy reduces Cheyne-Stokes respiration, corrects hypoxemia, and consolidates sleep by reducing arousals caused by the hyperpneic phase of Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Correction of nocturnal hypoxemia and sleep disruption may improve the clinical status of these patients.

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We investigated the interaction between respiration and sleep in ten male outpatients with severe, stable, maximally treated congestive heart failure (CHF). Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR), defined as periodic breathing with apnea or hypopnea, was found in all patients with a mean duration of 120 +/- 87 minutes [50.2 +/- 34.4 percent total sleep time (TST)]. The CSR was found predominantly during stage 1 (20.6 +/- 6.7 percent TST) and stage 2 (25.8 +/- 6 percent TST) NREM sleep and occurred rarely during slow wave sleep (SWS) (1.6 +/- 1 percent TST) and REM sleep (1.6 +/- 0.5 percent TST). All apneas and hypopneas were central. Despite normal awake arterial oxygenation (SaO2) (96.1 +/- 1.6 percent), significant, severe hypoxemia was found during sleep in seven patients with SaO2 less than 90 percent for 9 to 59 percent TST (mean +/- SD, 23 +/- 23 percent TST), and this was significantly related to the duration of CSR (r = 0.66, p less than 0.05). The mean minimum SaO2 for sleep stage was lowest during stage 1 (82.1 percent +/- 2.6 percent) and stage 2 (78.9 percent +/- 2.8 percent) NREM sleep, intermediate during REM sleep (84.5 percent +/- 1.8 percent) and highest during SWS (87.6 percent +/- 2.7 percent). Sleep was disrupted to a variable extent in all patients with a short mean TST (287 +/- 106 minutes), a high proportion of stage 1 sleep (26 +/- 19 percent TST), virtual absence of SWS (5 +/- 7 percent TST) which was found in only four patients, and a high number of sleep stage changes (30 +/- 27/hour) and arousals (28 +/- 25/hour). Arousals occurred predominantly during stage 1 (17 +/- 20/hour) and stage 2 (10 +/- 7/hour) NREM sleep and the majority immediately followed the hyperpneic phase of CSR. The amount of CSR (percent TST) was inversely related to the length of TST (r = -0.73, p less than 0.05), and directly related to the number of sleep stage changes (r = 0.79, p less than 0.01) and the number of arousals (r = 0.66, p less than 0.05). We conclude that in severe, stable CHF, CSR occurs predominantly during light sleep, that despite normal awake arterial oxygen saturation, significant hypoxemia may develop during sleep due to CSR, and that sleep is unstable and disrupted due to frequent arousals caused by the hyperpneic phase of CSR. These sequelae of CSR may be important determinants of the clinical status and outcome of patients with severe CHF.

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Cicloprolol is a new cardioselective beta-blocking agent with partial agonist activity (intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, ISA). Its haemodynamic profile was compared with that of atenolol (cardioselective; no ISA) in a comparative dose-response study of 24 ischaemic patients with diminished cardiac reserve. Following a stable control period, equivalent intravenous (i.v.) beta-blocking boluses of atenolol (1, 1, 2, and 4 mg) or cicloprolol (0.025, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1 mg/kg) were randomly administered and haemodynamics and left ventricular ejection fraction were determined at rest and during bicycle exercise. At rest, atenolol reduced heart rate (HR) and cardiac index; diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), and pulmonary artery occluded pressure (PAOP) increased without change in mean arterial pressure (MAP). Cicloprolol increased left ventricular ejection fraction, reduced its end-diastolic volume, and tended to reduce filling pressure without change in other variables. During exercise, atenolol reduced ejection fraction and increased SVRI; in contrast, cicloprolol did not significantly alter these parameters. Attenuation of exercise tachycardia and cardiac index increase was similar after each agent. Thus, the cardiac performance assessed from left ventricular stroke index or ejection fraction/filling pressure relationships was less depressed after cicloprolol as compared with atenolol. The relevance of such haemodynamic differences to exercise ability or quality of life during sustained therapy warrants examination.

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The hemodynamic dose-response effects of intravenous dopexamine hydrochloride (0.5 to 2.0 micrograms/kg/min) have been compared with dopamine (2.5 to 10 micrograms/kg/min) in 12 patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction in an open randomized crossover study. Both drugs increased cardiac output and decreased systemic vascular resistance. Dopexamine hydrochloride appeared to increase heart rate more than dopamine although this did not reach statistical significance. Dopexamine hydrochloride produced small increases in systolic and decreases in diastolic blood pressure, whereas dopamine had a biphasic effect resulting in a decrease in mean blood pressure at low doses and an increase at the highest dose studied. With increasing dosage, there was a trend toward more vasodilator activity with dopexamine hydrochloride than with dopamine. Dopexamine hydrochloride produced fewer adverse effects than dopamine.

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Cicloprolol is a cardioselective beta-1 partial agonist; its haemodynamic and radionuclide (nuclear stethoscope) effects were determined in 22 patients with impaired left ventricular function due to coronary artery disease. Following a 20 min stable control period, the effects of four doses of cicloprolol (0.025, 0.025, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg at 10 min intervals) were measured at rest 5-10 min after each intravenous injection. The effects of the cumulative 0.2 mg/kg dosage were assessed during supine bicycle exercise and compared with a control exercise period. At rest there were significant increases in systolic arterial without change in mean blood pressure. The heart rate and cardiac index were unchanged. There was a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction with a reduction in filling pressure and volume. Patients with resting heart rate below 75 beats/min and with ejection fraction greater than 35% showed the greatest improvement. During supine bicycle exercise, ejection fraction was increased compared to control (31 +/- 2 to 36 +/- 2; P less than 0.01), cardiac volume reduced and exercise tachycardia attenuated. These data suggest that cicloprolol may be of value where beta-blockade is considered in the presence of underlying left ventricular dysfunction due to ischaemic heart disease.

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A prospective, randomized study compared the hemodynamic effects of equivalent doses of five slow calcium channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem, nicardipine, nisoldipine, and amlodipine) in 50 patients with ischemia. After a stable control period, dose-response curves were constructed for each drug with hemodynamics measured 10 minutes after intravenous boluses. Each drug reduced mean systemic arterial pressure (P less than 0.01) and systemic vascular resistance index (P less than 0.01). The heart rate increased after nicardipine, nisoldipine, and amlodipine (P less than 0.01) but was unchanged after verapamil and reduced after diltiazem (P less than 0.01). The left ventricular filling pressure increased after amlodipine (P less than 0.05) and verapamil (P less than 0.01) but was unchanged with the other compounds. Cardiac index increased substantially after the dihydropyridines (P less than 0.01), with little change after verapamil or diltiazem. Cardiac double product fell only after verapamil and diltiazem. These studies provide quantitation of the comparative actions of acute intravenous calcium channel blockade in coronary disease.

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1 The haemodynamic and radionuclide effects of i.v. bumetanide (25 micrograms kg-1) were prospectively studied in 24 patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease and either acute exercise-induced (Group I, n = 12) or chronic (Group II, n = 12) heart failure. 2 Bumetanide at rest increased systemic arterial blood pressure and vascular resistance index; cardiac index and pulmonary artery occluded pressure (PAOP) were reduced at an unchanged heart rate in all patients. The left ventricular ejection fraction fell in patients with normal resting left ventricular filling pressure without change in those with chronic heart failure. The cardiac volumes were unchanged in either group. 3 During constant-load supine bicycle exercise, there were similar effects on systemic arterial pressures, vascular resistance index and PAOP; however the cardiac index was maintained at a reduced left ventricular filling pressure and unchanged ejection fraction and volumes. 4 These data demonstrate immediate mild pressor and vasoconstrictor actions of bumetanide which appear independent of the state of cardiac function; they suggest that any immediate improvement in patient symptomatology following bumetanide may be consequent on the reduction in PAOP; short-term reductions in volume may not occur.

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Left ventricular (LV) diastolic filling is limited by the constraining effects exerted by the pericardium (PE) and the lung/chest wall. The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of various estimates of external cardiac constraint, compared to pericardial surface pressure (Ppe) measured lateral to the LV myocardium. In nine anesthetized dogs we measured Ppe, pleural surface pressure (Ppt) (lateral to the pericardium) and esophageal pressure (Pes) under conditions of volume loading and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). We measured Ppe and Ppl with flat, liquid-containing silastic rubber balloons and Pes with an air-containing cylindrical balloon. After instrumentation, the chest was resealed and continuous suction (-5 mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) was maintained. Volume loading with incremental intravenous infusions of saline was used to increase LV end-diastolic pressure to 20-25 mm Hg. PEEP of 0, 10 and 20 mm Hg were applied at baseline and after each increment of volume loading. At low volume, increases in PEEP caused simultaneous increases in LV end-diastolic pressure (P less than 0.01) and in Ppe (P less than 0.0001) but a reduction in transmural LV pressure (P less than 0.0005). Ppl and Pes both increased with PEEP (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.01, respectively). However, Ppe always exceeded Ppl, while Pes remained at only approximately 1/3 Ppl throughout. Volume loading caused a significant increase in Ppe (P less than 0.0001) and a smaller, but significant increase in Ppl (P less than 0.05). Pes remained unchanged during volume loading. Thus external cardiac constraint increased markedly during volume loading and PEEP as evidenced by a marked elevation of Ppe. Both Ppl and Pes markedly underestimated this increase. Therefore, calculation of transmural LV pressure by subtracting pleural or esophageal pressure from intracavitary pressure can lead to overestimation of LV preload. The decrease in cardiac output during PEEP occurs secondary to decreased preload, i.e. decreased transmural pressure and end-diastolic dimension. Analysis of performance using cardiac function curves does not suggest a change in contractility with PEEP.

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A prospective study evaluated the comparative haemodynamic effects of three Class I antiarrhythmics (lignocaine Class 1B, disopyramide Class 1A and flecainide Class 1C) in 30 patients with uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction. Three groups, each of 10 patients, were allocated to lignocaine (Group I) 1.5 mg kg-1 i.v. loading dose over 10 min followed by infusion at 3 mg kg-1 h-1, disopyramide (Group II) or flecainide (Group III), both administered as a 1.0 mg kg-1 i.v. loading bolus over 10 min followed by a 1.6 mg kg-1 h-1 infusion for 120 min. The plasma levels of each drug were in the described therapeutic range. Lignocaine decreased cardiac index (-0.3 l min-1 m-2 (9%); P less than 0.05) and stroke volume index (-5 ml m-2 (11%); P less than 0.01). Systemic blood pressure, heart rate and systemic vascular resistance index were unchanged. There was a small increase (+3 mm Hg (30%); P less than 0.01) in pulmonary artery occluded pressure (PAOP). Both disopyramide and flecainide increased systemic blood pressure; the maximum increases for mean blood pressure were +10 mm Hg (11%) and +4 mm Hg (4%) respectively. Both drugs reduced cardiac index (-0.5 l min-1 m-2 (16%): -0.4 l min-1 m-2 (11%)) and stroke volume index (-11 ml m-2 (25%): -5 ml m-2 (11%)). There were increases in heart rate (+13: +5 beats min-1) pulmonary artery occluded pressure (+2: +3 mm Hg) and systemic vascular resistance index (+696: +275 dyn s cm-5 m2).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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The symptomatic benefits of combining beta-adrenoceptor blockers and nitrates in angina pectoris are well recognised. Their actions on cardiac haemodynamics and volumes when combined have been poorly characterized. Accordingly this study investigated a new cardioselective beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent celiprolol and buccal nitroglycerine in 24 patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease. Following a control period, with confirmed stable haemodynamics, three groups (n = 8/group) of prospectively matched patients, were studied following intravenous celiprolol (8 mg), buccal nitrate (10 mg) or their combination. Haemodynamics and left ventricular ejection fraction (nuclear probe) were determined following each intervention. The actions of each regimen on the haemodynamics of exercise-induced angina were compared by exercise testing in the control state and following each regimen. At rest, celiprolol did not alter haemodynamic parameters. Nitrate therapy reduced left ventricular filling pressure (pulmonary artery occluded pressure--PAOP) and volumes; the ejection fraction and heart rate increased. Combination therapy resulted in a highly significant reduction in left ventricular preload and afterload (PAOP and mean arterial blood pressure) at an increased left ventricular ejection fraction and reduced cardiac volumes; there was a trend to reduce cardiac double product (HR X SBP). During exercise celiprolol reduced systolic blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac index; systemic vascular resistance index increased. Nitrate therapy reduced blood pressure and PAOP, and increased ejection fraction. Combination therapy reduced all components of the triple product (heart rate, systolic blood pressure and PAOP) without affecting the other haemodynamic or radionuclide parameters. These data suggest improvements in cardiac function from the combination of celiprolol and nitrate therapy which were not achieved by either agent when used as monotherapy; they afford an interesting insight into the manner in which such widely utilised therapeutic modalities interact in coronary artery disease.

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The haemodynamic dose-response effects of a new long-acting slow-calcium channel blocking agent, amlodipine were evaluated in 20 patients with angiographically confirmed coronary heart disease. At rest, following a control saline period, four i.v. doses of the drug (cumulative dosage 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg) were administered to ten patients and haemodynamics determined in the ten to 15 minutes following injection. Effects on circulatory parameters were only evident following the maximum cumulative dosage. Accordingly in a further ten patients, the regimen was doubled (cumulative i.v. dosage 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 mg). In each study the haemodynamic effects during constant load supine bicycle exercise were evaluated by comparison of values during the control exercise period and following the final cumulative dosage. On the higher regimen, amlodipine significantly reduced resting systolic, diastolic and mean (p less than 0.01) systemic arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance index (p less than 0.01). Heart rate (p less than 0.01), stroke volume index (p less than 0.01) and cardiac index (p less than 0.01) increased; pulmonary artery occluded pressure was unchanged. During constant load bicycle exercise, the mean arterial pressure was significantly reduced (p less than 0.01), and the heart rate and cardiac index increased (p less than 0.01). Thus the immediate impact of amlodipine in stable coronary artery disease was to reduce left ventricular afterload and augment cardiac pumping performance. The minimum effective i.v. dosage appeared to be 10 mg. Amlodipine appears sufficiently promising to warrant longer-term studies in ischaemic heart disease.

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The interaction of a new slow-calcium blocker (nisoldipine) and the beta-blocker metoprolol was evaluated in 16 patients with stable angina. Haemodynamic parameters were determined in a control rest and exercise period. Patients were then randomised equally to nisoldipine (4-8 micrograms/kg) or metoprolol (10 mg) and the haemodynamics of monotherapy assessed; finally the second drug was administered and the effects of combination determined. At rest nisoldipine reduced systemic blood pressure and vascular resistance (P less than 0.01); heart rate, cardiac and stroke volume indices increased (P less than 0.01) at an unchanged pulmonary artery occluded pressure. Metoprolol alone reduced heart rate (P less than 0.05) and increased the pulmonary artery occluded pressure (P less than 0.05). Combination therapy reduced systemic blood pressure and vascular resistance (P less than 0.01); cardiac index and pulmonary artery occluded pressure increased (P less than 0.01) at an unchanged heart rate. The effect of combination was influenced by the order of administration; an improvement in cardiac performance was particularly evident when nisoldipine was added to metoprolol. The interaction during dynamic exercise was similar to that at rest. Thus these data indicated the haemodynamic safety of concurrent nisoldipine/metoprolol therapy; the addition of nisoldipine to metoprolol appeared to offset in part the cardiodepressant properties of beta-blockade.

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Experimental studies have shown that right ventricular filling pressure (that is, intracavitary diastolic pressure) approximates pericardial surface pressure but, in many patients after removal of pericardial effusion, right ventricular filling pressure has been found to markedly exceed pericardial pressure recorded by an open catheter. The aim of this study was to determine whether this apparent contradiction was related to the technique of pericardial pressure measurement. Nine patients with chronic pericardial effusion were studied and, although these pressures diverged to varying degrees in individual patients, the previous observation was confirmed in that, although initially similar, right ventricular filling pressure and pericardial pressure (measured by means of an open catheter) tended to diverge during removal of the effusate; when the evacuation was as complete as possible pericardial pressure was 2.1 +/- 1.0 (mean +/- SE), while right ventricular filling pressure was 8.7 +/- 1.7 mm Hg (p less than 0.01). In six open chest, anesthetized, volume-loaded dogs with pericardial effusion (50 ml), right ventricular filling pressure and pericardial pressures measured with both open catheter and flat balloon were all equal. With decreasing volume of pericardial fluid, right ventricular filling pressure and pericardial pressure (by catheter) diverged as had been observed in patients. However, pericardial pressure (balloon) continued to be equal to right ventricular filling pressure. (With 0 ml in the pericardium, right ventricular filling pressure = 12.9 +/- 0.9 mm Hg, pericardial pressure [catheter] = 1.4 +/- 1.9 mm Hg and pericardial pressure [balloon] = 12.4 +/- 1.5 mm Hg.) Thus, these observations support the use of right ventricular filling pressure as an estimate of pericardial constraint in patients.

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Invasive techniques of cardiac catheterization and angiography have become the gold standard for the diagnosis and management of patients with ischemic heart disease. More recently there has been a remarkable development of noninvasive imaging techniques which has resulted in improved ability to select patients in need of invasive investigations and in a more complete understanding of the physiological and clinical significance of information obtained from such invasive investigations. The value and limitations of the 3 most common techniques, radionuclide ventriculography, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and acute myocardial infarction scintigraphy, are discussed in this review in relation to the assessment of patients with proven or suspected ischemic heart disease. These nuclear cardiology techniques are now available in most hospitals with nuclear medicine equipment; a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of each technique is essential for optimal clinical use.

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