Abstract
The purpose of this study is to assess the right ventricular(RV) performance during left heart bypass (LHB). To evaluate RV performance, RV maximal elastance (RVEmax) was assessed by the right ventricular pressure-volume relationship measured by conductance catheter. RVEmax was measured during varying degrees of LHB (assistance ratio 0 to 100% of pulmonary arterial flow). The LHB resulted in parallel shifts of RVEmax in normal hearts, but the full LHB decreased RVEmax in failing hearts which were produced by normothermic aortic clamping for 20 minutes. (3.95±0.93(mmHg/ml) vs. 3.00±1.36 (mmHg/ml), p<0.05). In the failing heart, RVEmax was in inverse correlation with the change of right ventricular end-diastolicvolurne more clearly rather than the change of the assist flow of LHB.
