Cardiac Performance Flashcards
Cardiac performance
. How well the heart performs this pump function
. Described in terms of functional parameters (stroke volume, stroke work, CO)
Stroke volume
. Volume of blood ejected during a single cardiac contraction
SV = EDV-ESV
Cardiac output
. Blood flow per unit time
CO = SV X HR
Cardiac index
. CO divided by the body surface area
. Compensates that the large the individual generally the greater the CO
Stroke work
. Amount of work the heart does during a single contraction
SW = VPP X SV
. VPP: ventricular pulse pressure (peak pressure minus end-diastolic pressure)
. Under physiological conditions, the right ventricular stroke volume is equal to the left, but the RV stroke work is not equal to LV
Factors that overall performance of ventricle depends on
. Preload
. Afterload
. Contractility
. HR
Preload
. Consists of forces acting to stretch cardiac mm. Fibers prior to onset of contraction (at end of diastole)
. Determines max resting fiber length in mm.
. Preload of whole heart determined by tension in ventricular wall at end of diastole which depends on Law of LaPlace (T = Pr)
Ventricular filling time
. Time available for passive filing (both rapid and reduced) to occur
. Filling time dependent on HR
. Most filling occurs during rapid filling phase
. Normally filling time is adequate to not limit perfusion of organs
. As HR inc., time available for diastolic filling dec.
. If ventricular contractility inc. w/ inc. HR stroke volume may not dec. w/ inc. HR, but stay the same or even inc. w/ inc. HR until filling time becomes limiting at very high HRs
. Situation (inc. contractility plus inc. HR) will lead to inc. in CO, the magnitude of which can be large when exercising
What occurs when diastolic filing time decreases to less than 0.1 sec?
. Occurs due to excessively rapid HR
. Time available for completion of rapid filling phase of cardiac cycle is no longe adequate
. Primary functional implication of inadequate ventricular filing time is that it results in an inability to maintain adequate CO due to reduction in SV at very high HR
Ventricular compliance
. Property of the heart that allows it to be expanded or distended
. One large change in volume produces a relatively small change in pressure
C = DeltaV/DeltaP
. As compliance dec., a given change in volume will produce an abnormally large change in pressure
. Change affects pressure gradient required for passive and active ventricular filling to occur and continue
. Myocardial compliance is dec. in conjunction w/ ventricular hypertrophy and ischemia
. Not significantly affected by altered sympathetic or parasympathetic tone
The value of passive pressure that develops during ventricular filling depends on ____
. Compliance of ventricle
. Normally back pressure is of minor importance in terms of ventricular filling
. However, when there is abnormally low ventricular compliance (high EDV), diastolic pressure assoc. w/ ventricular filling can be more important in limiting ventricular filling
Ventricular filling pressure
. Intrathoracic pressure and central venous pressure affect venous return to RA and affect LV function by influence RV stroke volume.
. Inc. in central venous pressure/Neg. intrathoracic pressure will inc. pressure gradient and enhance filling of RV
. This affects RV stroke volume ultimately LV filling and LV stroke volume
Atrial contractility
. Atrial systole only accounts for 15-20% ventricular filling at rest
. Changes in atrial contractility normally minor factors in EDV, but importance include. When diastolic filling time becomes limited
. Atrial systole can account for up to 40% of filling at high HRs
. Lack of effective contraction is not life threatening but reduces exercise capacity
Pericardial restraint
. Pericardium protects against LV distension during volume overload
. Maintains alignment of heart w/ great vessels
. Provides lubricated surface against which ventricles move
. Accumulation of fluid or fibrosis restricts or limits ventricular filling
. At the same time ventricular compliance will be reduced
. Meaning that as ventricle fills there will be disproportionate inc. in ventricular end-diastolic pressure
Frank-Starling Mechanism
. Defines relationship between EDV and ventricular pressure development
. Intrinsic mechanism for regulation of cardiac function
. If ventricles are filled to a greater extent than normal, subsequent contraction is more forceful than normal
. Systolic inc. w/ inc. EDV
. SV also inc. w/ inc. EDV
. Creates starling curve
EDV is dependent on ___
. Body position
. When supine, there is very little diastolic reserve volume so EDV can’t be substantially inc. by inc. venous return so alterations in EDV to alter cardiac function
. When standing there is a sizeable diastolic reserve volume and EDV can be inc. significantly as venous return is enhanced
. Diastolic reserve = volume of blood that could be returned to the heart