Relationship Between Local Myocardial Dimensions and Left Ventricular Volume in Dogs

Abstract

Ultrasonic elements inserted parallel to the surface of the anterior wall of the left ventricle in open-chest dogs were used to determine myocardial distances (MCL). During saline loading with and without administration of isoproterenol, end-systolic and end-diastolic MCL were compared with the corresponding ventricular volumes (ESV and EDV), estimated by thermodilution technique. In individual experiments, correlation coefficients for the relationship between MCL³and ventricular volumes ranged from 0.91 to 0.99. It is concluded that stroke volume can be analyzed in terms of end-systolic and end-diastolic MCL, and that the thermodilution technique correctly determines ESV/EDV.

Key Words:

• Adrenergic activity
• cardiac dimensions
• cardiac dynamics
• isoproterenol
• myocardial fiber length
• preload
• thermodilution
• ultrasonics
• ventricular volume