Background-We have demonstrated that myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction (IVA) is a sensitive index of left ventricular contractile function. In this study, we assessed the utility of IVA to measure right ventricular (RV) contractile function. Methods and Results-We examined 8 pigs by using tissue Doppler imaging of the RV free wall and simultaneous measurements of intraventricular pressure, volume, maximal elastance (e max ), preload recruitable stroke work, and dP/dt max by conductance catheterization. Animals were paced in the right atrium at a rate of 130 beats per minute (bpm).IVA was compared with elastance during contractility modulation by esmolol and dobutamine and during preload reduction and afterload increase by transient balloon occlusion of the inferior vena cava and pulmonary artery, respectively. Data were also obtained during incremental atrial pacing from 110 to 210 bpm. Esmolol led to a decrease in IVA and dP/dt max . During dobutamine infusion, IVA, dP/dt max , preload recruitable stroke work, and e max all increased significantly. During preload reduction and afterload increase, IVA remained constant up to a reduction of RV volume by 54% and an RV systolic pressure increase of 58%. Pacing up to a rate of 190 bpm led to a stepwise increase in IVA and dP/dt max , with a subsequent fall at a pacing rate of 210 bpm. Conclusions-IVA is a measurement of RV contractile function that is unaffected by preload and afterload changes in a physiological range and is able to measure the force-frequency relation. This novel index may be ideally suited to the assessment of acute changes of RV function in clinical studies.

Background-We have demonstrated that myocardial acceleration during isovolumic contraction (IVA) is a sensitive index of right ventricular contractile function. In this study, we assessed the usefulness of IVA to measure left ventricular (LV) contractile function and force-frequency relationships in an experimental preparation. Methods and Results-In study 1, we examined 6 pigs by use of tissue Doppler imaging of LV free wall and simultaneous measurements of intraventricular pressure, volume, maximal elastance (E max ), and dP/dt max by conductance catheterization. Animals were paced via the right atrium at a rate of 130 bpm. IVA was compared with elastance during contractility modulation by esmolol and dobutamine and assessed during preload reduction and afterload increase. In study 2, in 6 more pigs, force-frequency data were obtained during incremental atrial pacing from 120 to 180 bpm. Study 1: Esmolol led to a decrease in IVA and E max (PϽ0.03 and Ͻ0.02, respectively), both of which increased during dobutamine infusion (PϽ0.02 and Ͻ0.03, respectively). IVA was unaffected by significant (PϽ0.001) acute reduction of LV volume and a significantly increased LV afterload (systolic pressure increase, PϽ0.001). Study 2: There was a positive correlation between IVA and dP/dt max (r 2 ϭ0.92, PϽ0.05). As heart rate was increased from 120 to 160 bpm, there were significant increases in both IVA and dP/dt max (PϽ0. 0004 and Pϭ0.02, respectively). Over the same range of heart rates, there was no significant change in E max (Pϭ0.22). Conclusions-IVA is a measurement of LV contractile function that is unaffected by preload and afterload changes within a physiological range and can be used noninvasively to measure LV force-frequency relationships.

As complete closure rates and complications are identical, but duration of hospital stay is shorter with less morbidity, we prefer implantation of an Amplatzer septal occluder to surgery wherever possible.