The Journal of clinical investigation
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Beneficial effects of nitroprusside infusion in heart failure are purportedly a result of decreased afterload through "impedance" reduction. To study the effect of nitroprusside on vascular factors that determine the total load opposing left ventricular ejection, the total aortic input impedance spectrum was examined in 12 patients with heart failure (cardiac index <2.0 liters/min per m(2) and left ventricular end diastolic pressure >20 mm Hg). This input impedance spectrum expresses both mean flow (resistance) and pulsatile flow (compliance and wave reflections) components of vascular load. ⋯ Improved ventricular function persisted when aortic pressure was restored to control values with simultaneous phenylephrine infusion in three patients. These data indicate that nitroprusside acutely alters both the mean and pulsatile components of vascular load to effect improvement in ventricular function in patients with heart failure. The evidence presented suggests that it may be possible to reduce vascular load and improve ventricular function independent of aortic pressure reduction.
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We have examined whether lung hyperinflation in the anesthetized dog reflexly depresses cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, and blood pressure and whether these changes persist for more than a minute. To eliminate any mechanical restriction to venous return and pulmonary blood flow during lung hyperinflation, a model was developed in which all pulmonary artery blood flow and all ventilation were directed to the right lung in dogs with widely open chest and the left lung was hyperinflated before and after left cervical vagotomy. Heart rate, stroke volume, and blood pressure decreased by 24, 20, and 27%, respectively, within 15 s of left lung inflation to 30 cm H(2)O. ⋯ After left cervical vagotomy the transient fall in heart rate, stroke volume, and blood pressure during left lung hyperinflation was greatly reduced or eliminated. These results suggest that unilateral lung hyperinflation reflexly depresses heart rate and blood pressure, which are partially compensated with time, and reflexly depresses stroke volume, which persists uncompensated until the lung is deflated. These findings may explain the depressed cardiovascular function observed during regional lung overdistention especially when it occurs during positive pressure ventilation.
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Alveolar hypoxia induces pulmonary vasoconstriction by an unknown mechanism. Cytochrome P-450 (C-P450) is found in the lung and may modify pulmonary vascular tone via its sensitivity to changes in oxygen tension or by affecting metabolism of a chemical mediator. Metyrapone and carbon monoxide are both inhibitors of C-P450. ⋯ Washout of alveolar CO with unilateral N(2) ventilation restored AHPV, with perfusion decreasing 29% from control. Thus, both metyrapone and carbon monoxide can reversibly inhibit AHPV. C-P450 may, therefore, be involved in the transduction process of the vasoconstrictor response to alveolar hypoxia.