Comprehensive therapy
-
Comprehensive therapy · Jul 1992
ReviewVentricular/vascular interaction in health and heart failure.
In summary, the concept of aortic input impedance, which has been examined in detail, requires evaluation of the flow and pressure pulsations within the ascending aorta to determine an input impedance spectrum. This function describes the load imposed on the ejecting left ventricle by the systemic vasculature in terms of pulsatile and steady-flow components and is independent of changes in ventricular performance. The components contain information about the mechanical properties of the large vessels (elastance), arteriolar bed (resistance), and waves reflected (reflectance) within the arterial system. ⋯ With vasorelaxation, all components of vascular loading decrease and result in markedly improved generation of left ventricular power and cardiac output. Recent evidence suggests that agents inducing vasorelaxation can influence various regions of the aorta and large vascular beds in a different manner. This would result in the ability to alter elastance, resistance, and reflectance selectively to affect pulsatile and steady-flow components of load.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)