Estimation of beat-to-beat changes in stroke volume from arterial pressure: a comparison of two pressure wave analysis techniques during head-up tilt testing in young, healthy men

Evaluation of stroke volume estimation during orthostatic stress: the utility of Modelflow

Advanced blood pressure monitoring devices contain algorithms that permit estimation of stroke volume (SV). Modelflow (Finapres Medical Systems) is one common method to non-invasively estimate beat-to-beat SV. However, Modelflow accuracy during profound reductions in SV is unclear. We aimed to compare SV estimation by Modelflow and echocardiography, at rest and during orthostatic challenge. We tested 13 individuals (age 24 ± 2 years; 7 female) using combined head-up tilt and graded lower body negative pressure, continued until presyncope. SV was derived by both Modelflow and echocardiography on multiple occasions while supine, during orthostatic stress, and at presyncope. SV index (SVI) was determined by normalising SV for body surface area. Bias and limits of agreement were determined using Bland-Altman analyses. Two one-sided tests (TOST) examined equivalency. Across all timepoints, Modelflow estimates of SV (73.2 ± 1.6 ml) were strongly correlated with echocardiography estimates (66.1 ± 1.3 ml) (r = 0.56, P  < 0.001) with a bias of +7.1 ± 21.1 ml. Bias across all timepoints was further improved when SV was indexed (+3.6 ± 12.0 ml.m -2 ). Likewise, when assessing responses relative to baseline, Modelflow estimates of SV (-23.4 ± 1.4%) were strongly correlated with echocardiography estimates (-19.2 ± 1.3%) (r = 0.76, P  < 0.001), with minimal bias (-4.2 ± 13.1%). TOST testing revealed equivalency to within 15% of the clinical standard for SV and SVI, both expressed as absolute values and relative to baseline. Modelflow can be used to track changes in SV during profound orthostatic stress, with accuracy enhanced with correction relative to baseline values or body size. These data support the use of Modelflow estimates of SV for autonomic function testing.

Cardiovascular Regulation During Acute Gravitational Changes with Exhaling on Exertion

During gravitational changes or changes in the direction of action in relation to the body, fluid displacements can be observed. In special cases different breathing maneuvers (e. g., exhaling on exertion; Ex-Ex) are used to counteract acute fluid shifts. Both factors have a significant impact on cardiovascular regulation. Eight healthy male subjects were tested on a tilt seat, long arm human centrifuge, and parabolic flight. The work aims to investigate the effect of exhaling on exertion on the cardiovascular regulation during acute gravitational changes compared to normal breathing. Possible interactions and differences between conditions (Ex-Ex, normal breathing) for the parameters V’O₂ , V’_E , HR, and SV were analysed over a 40 s period by a three-way ANOVA. Significant (p≤0.05) effects for all main factors and interactions between condition and time as well as maneuver and time were found for all variables. The exhaling on exertion maneuver had a significant influence on the cardiovascular response during acute gravitational and positional changes. For example, the significant increase of V’O2 at the end of the exhalation on exertion maneuver indicates an increased lung circulation as a result of the maneuver.

Thermoregulatory and cardiovasculareffects of capsaicin application on human skin during dynamic exercise to temperate and warm conditions

Thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses during cycling in temperate and warm environments without and with application of capsaicin on the skin were investigated. We hypothesized that regardless of environmental temperature, capsaicin application would activate heat loss mechanisms attenuating exercise‐induced rectal temperature (Tre) and blood pressure increase. Eight males cycled at 55% of their maximal aerobic power so long as to reach 38.2°C Tre at 20.8 ± 1.0°C and at 30.6 ± 1.1°C ambient temperatures twice: without (NCA) and with (CA) application of capsaicin patches (12 × 18 cm, 4.8 mg). Patches were applied on pectoralis major, trapezius and vastus lateralis muscles. Thermoregulatory (Tre, proximal‐distal skin temperature gradient, sweating rate), cardiovascular variables and oxygen uptake were continuously recorded. In both ambient conditions, during the first 14 min of exercise, the local vasoconstrictive tone as a function of the relative change in Tre was lower in CA than NCA (p < .05, d = 0.84–1.15). Further, sweating rate was higher and occurred at a lower Tre increase in CA compared to NCA (p = .03, d = 0.6) resulting in extended time to reach 38.2°C Tre (p = .03, d = 0.9). Moreover, oxygen consumption was higher in CA than in NCA (p < .001, d = 0.8). Mean arterial pressure was lower during cycling in warm compared to temperate environment, but was unaffected by capsaicin. We conclude that activation of thermal sensors by capsaicin results in lower Tre rise during exercise, which is mediated through greater skin vasodilation along with higher rate and earlier onset of sweating. Nonetheless, capsaicin application has no extra effect on exercise cardiovascular responses.

Postural effects on cerebral blood flow and autoregulation

Cerebral autoregulation (CA) is thought to maintain relatively constant cerebral blood flow (CBF) across normal blood pressures. To determine if postural changes alter CA, we measured cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) in the middle cerebral arteries, mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), cardiac output (Q), and end‐tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO₂) in 18 healthy individuals (11 female and seven male; 26 ± 9 years) during repeated periods of supine and seated rest. Multiple regression was used to evaluate the influence of PETCO₂, MABP, Q, and hydrostatic pressure on CBFv. Static CA was assessed by evaluating absolute changes in steady‐state CBFv. Dynamic CA was assessed by transfer function analysis of the CBFv response to spontaneous oscillations in MABP. In the seated versus supine posture, MABP (67.2 ± 7.2 vs. 84.2 ± 12.1 mmHg; P < 0.001), CBFv (55.2 ± 9.1 vs. 63.6 ± 10.6 cm/sec; P < 0.001) and PETCO₂ (29.1 ± 2.6 vs. 30.9 ± 2.3 mmHg; P < 0.001) were reduced. Changes in CBFv were not explained by variance in PETCO₂, MABP, Q, or hydrostatic pressure. A reduction in MABP to CBFv transfer function gain while seated (P < 0.01) was explained by changes in the power spectrum of MABP, not CBFv. Our findings suggest that changes in steady‐state cerebral hemodynamics between postures do not appear to have a large functional consequence on the dynamic regulation of CBF.

Impact of a motivated performance task on autonomic and hemodynamic cardiovascular reactivity

Motivated performance (MP) tasks include mental stressors characterized by a high degree of motivation, individual engagement, and sympathetic overstimulation. It is therefore important to document the independent influence of motivation apart from engagement on markers of cardiovascular autonomic modulation, including vasomotor tone (low-frequency systolic blood pressure, LFSBP), blood pressure homeostasis (baroreflex sensitivity, BRS), and myocardial oxygen consumption (rate pressure product, RPP). Accordingly, an arithmetic task (AT) was used to manipulate motivation to evaluate its impact on cardiovascular reactivity. Forty-two young adults (Mage = 20.21 years, SD = 2.09) qualified for the study. After a 10-min resting period, electrocardiogram and finger beat-to-beat blood pressure were recorded at three distinct 5-min stages: baseline (BASE), AT, and recovery (REC). Prior to AT initiation, participants were randomized into two groups based on directions stating that the AT task was either designed to be entertaining and fun (low MP, LMP) or a test diagnostic of one's intelligence (high MP, HMP). Independent of task engagement ratings, motivation to complete the AT task as well as solution success was significantly greater in the HMP than the LMP condition. Regarding physiological parameters, two (LMP vs. HMP) × three (BASE, AT, REC) repeated measures ANOVAs revealed no significant baseline differences but a significant higher order interaction indicating that in comparison to LMP, individuals in the HMP condition had significantly higher vasomotor tone and myocardial oxygen consumption but not BRS. Greater motivation during a performance task may provide the substrate for the development of adverse cardiovascular events by increasing sympathetic activity and ultimately increasing myocardial oxygen demand which could lead to acute coronary syndromes.

Effects of moderate-intensity aerobic cycling and swim exercise on post-exertional blood pressure in healthy young untrained and triathlon-trained men and women

Aerobic exercises such as running, walking and cycling are known to elicit a PEH (post-exercise hypotensive) response in both trained and UT (untrained) subjects. However, it is not known whether swim exercise produces a similar effect in normotensive individuals. The complex acute physiological responses to water immersion suggest swimming may affect BP (blood pressure) differently than other forms of aerobic exercises. We tested the hypothesis that an acute bout of swimming would fail to elicit a PEH BP response compared with an equivalent bout of stationary cycling, regardless of training state. We studied 11 UT and ten triathlon-trained young healthy normotensive [SBP/DBP (systolic BP/diastolic BP) <120/80 mmHg)] men and women (age 23±1 years) who underwent 30 min of intensity-matched cycling and swimming sessions to assess changes in BP during a 75-min seated recovery. CO (cardiac output), SV (stroke volume), TPR (total peripheral resistance), HR (heart rate), HRV (HR variability) and core and skin temperature were also assessed. In UT subjects, PEH was similar between cycling (-3.1±1 mmHg) and swimming (-5.8±1 mmHg), with the greater magnitude of PEH following swimming, reflecting a significant fall in SV between modalities (P<0.05). Trained individuals did not exhibit a PEH response following swimming (0.3±1 mmHg), yet had a significant fall in SBP at 50 min post-cycling exercise (-3.7±1 mmHg) (P<0.05). The absence of PEH after swimming in the trained group may reflect a higher cardiac sympathetic outflow [as indicated by the LF (low-frequency) spectral component of HRV) (25 and 50 min) (P<0.05)] and a slower return of vagal tone, consistent with a significant increase in HR between modalities at all time points (P<0.05). These results suggest that training may limit the potential for an effective post-exertional hypotensive response to aerobic swimming.

Firing patterns of muscle sympathetic neurons during short-term use of continuous positive airway pressure in healthy subjects and in chronic heart failure patients

The current study tested the hypothesis that modification in central hemodynamics during short-term continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) application was accompanied by altered firing patterns of sympathetic nerve activity in CHF patients and healthy subjects. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), hemodynamic and ventilatory parameters were obtained from 8 healthy middle aged subjects and 7 CHF patients. Action potentials (APs) were extracted from MSNA neurograms, quantified as AP frequency and classified into different sized clusters. While on CPAP at 10cm H2O, multi-unit MSNA, AP frequency and mean burst area/min increased in healthy middle aged subjects (p<0.05) whereas CPAP had no effect on these variables in CHF patients. In conclusion, the impact of CPAP on central hemodynamics in healthy individuals elicited a moderate activation of sympathetic neurons through increased AP firing frequency, whereas in CHF patients both hemodynamics and MSNA remained unaltered.

Comparing hemodynamic effects with three different measurement devices, of two methods of external leg compression versus passive leg raising in patients after cardiac surgery

External leg compression (ELC) may increase cardiac output (CO) in fluid-responsive patients like passive leg raising (PLR). We compared the hemodynamic effects of two methods of ELC and PLR measured by thermodilution (COtd), pressure curve analysis Modelflow™ (COmf) and ultra-sound HemoSonic™ (COhs), to evaluate the method with the greatest hemodynamic effect and the most accurate less invasive method to measure that effect. We compared hemodynamic effects of two different ELC methods (circular, A (n = 16), vs. wide, B (n = 13), bandages inflated to 30 cm H2O for 15 min) with PLR prior to each ELC method, in 29 post-operative cardiac surgical patients. Hemodynamic responses were measured with COtd, COmf and COhs. PLR A increased COtd from 6.1 ± 1.7 to 6.3 ± 1.8 L·min(-1) (P = 0.016), and increased COhs from 4.9 ± 1.5 to 5.3 ± 1.6 L·min(-1) (P = 0.001), but did not increase COmf. ELC A increased COtd from 6.4 ± 1.8 to 6.7 ± 1.9 L·min(-1) (P = 0.001) and COmf from 6.9 ± 1.7 to 7.1 ± 1.8 L·min(-1) (P = 0.021), but did not increase COhs. ELC A increased COtd and COmf as in PLR A. PLR B increased COtd from 5.4 ± 1.3 to 5.8 ± 1.4 L·min(-1) (P < 0.001), and COhs from 5.0 ± 1.0 to 5.4 ± 1.0 L·min(-1) (P = 0.013), but not COmf. ELC B increased COtd from 5.2 ± 1.2 to 5.4 ± 1.1 L·min(-1) (P = 0.003), but less than during PLR B (P = 0.012), while COmf and COhs did not change. Bland-Altman and polar plots showed lower limits of agreement with changes in COtd for COmf than for COhs. The circular leg compression increases CO more than bandage compression, and is able to increase CO as in PLR. The less invasive Modelflow™ can detect these changes reasonably well.

The main determinant of hypotension in nitroglycerine tilt-induced vasovagal syncope

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to assess the main determinant of the fall in blood pressure (BP) responsible for the head-up tilt testing-induced syncope.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The study involved 200 patients (mean age 42 ± 3; 81 male) with syncope of unknown origin after the first evaluation. According to the response to the diagnostic tilt test, the population study was divided into four groups: Group I with mixed vasovagal syncope; Group II with cardioinhibitory syncope; Group III with vasodepressive syncope; Group IV: 40 patients with clinical syncope but no tilt-induced syncope. Finger arterial BP (Portapres, TNO, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) was recorded during tilt testing. Left ventricular stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were computed from the pressure pulsations (Modelflow, TNO, Amsterdam, the Netherlands). During syncopal phase, the TPR decreased significantly in Group III, and increased in Group I and in Group II. CO decreased in Group I and in Group II and did not change significantly in Group III. SV decreased significantly in all groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data showed that the arterial system appears to be the main determinant of the BP fall in vasodepressive vasovagal syncope; while the impaired constrictive response of the venous system, leading to reduced venous return to the heart, appears to be the main determinant of BP fall in mixed and cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope.

Recruitment pattern of sympathetic neurons during breath-holding at different lung volumes in apnea divers and controls

We tested the hypothesis that breath-hold divers (BHD) attain higher level of sympathetic activation than controls due to the duration of breath-hold rather than a different recruitment strategy. In 6 control subjects and 8 BHD we measured muscle sympathetic neural activity (MSNA) prior to and during functional residual capacity (FRC) and total lung capacity (TLC) breath-holding. On a subset of subjects we applied a new technique for the detection of action potentials (APs) in multiunit MSNA. Compared with controls, BHD group had lower burst AP content (13±7 vs. 6±3AP/burst; P=0.05) and number of active clusters (5±1 vs. 3±1clusters/burst; P=0.05) at baseline. However, the overall sympathetic AP/unit-time was comparable between the groups (131±105 vs. 173±152AP/min; P=0.62) due to increased burst frequency in BHD group (20±4bursts/min) vs. controls (13±3bursts/min) (P=0.039). The achieved level in total MSNA during FRC breath-holds was higher in divers (2298±780 vs. 1484±575a.u./min; P=0.039). Total MSNA at the end of TLC breath-hold was comparable between the groups (157±50 (controls) vs. 214±41s (BHD); P=0.61). FRC and TLC breath-holds increased AP frequency, burst AP content and active clusters/bursts in both groups but the response magnitude was determined by the type of the breath-hold. The divers used fewer number of APs/burst and active clusters/burst. In both groups breath-holds resulted in similar increases in MSNA which were reached both by an increase in firing frequency and by recruitment of previously silent, larger (faster conducting) sympathetic neurons, and possibly by repeated firing within the same burst.

Myogenic activity in autoregulation during low frequency oscillations

Lower body negative pressure (LBNP) was applied in eight human subjects to trigger low frequency oscillations in order to study the nature of functional coupling between the hemodynamic and autonomic nervous systems, with particular focus on how the myogenic response fits within this coupling. To this end muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output (CO), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were measured at baseline and during LBNP and were then examined in both the time and frequency domains. At the height of low frequency oscillations (~0.1Hz) there was a strong coupling between all the five indices, marked by perfect alignment of their oscillatory frequencies. Results in the time domain show that a fall in MAP is followed by a fall in TPR at 1.58s SD 0.69), a rise in heart rate at 2.64s (SD 0.98), a rise in cardiac output at 3.72s (SD 0.60), a peak in MSNA at 5.71s (SD 1.27) and, finally, a rise in TPR at 7.13s (SD 1.02). A possible interpretation of the latter is that a drop in MAP first triggers a drop in TPR via a myogenic response before the expected rise in TPR via a rise in MSNA. In other words, following a drop in arterial pressure, myogenic response controls vessel diameter before this control is taken over by MSNA. These findings provide a possible resolution of a longstanding conceptual argument against attributing a significant role for the myogenic response in blood flow autoregulation.

Peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity and sympathetic nerve activity are normal in apnea divers during training season

Apnea divers are exposed to repeated massive arterial oxygen desaturation, which could perturb chemoreflexes. An earlier study suggested that peripheral chemoreflex regulation of sympathetic vasomotor tone and ventilation may have recovered 4 or more weeks into the off season. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that peripheral chemoreflex regulation of ventilation and sympathetic vasomotor tone is present during the training season. We determined ventilation, heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac stroke volume, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during isocapnic hypoxia in 10 breath hold divers and 11 matched control subjects. The study was carried out at the end of the season of intense apnea trainings. Baseline MSNA frequency was 30+/-4bursts/min in control subjects and 25+/-4bursts/min in breath hold divers (P=0.053). During hypoxia burst frequency and total sympathetic activity increased similarly in both groups. Sympathetic activity normalized during the 30-minute recovery. Hypoxia-induced stimulation of minute ventilation was similar in both groups, although in divers it was maintained by higher tidal volumes and lower breathing frequency compared with control subjects. In both groups, hypoxia increased heart rate and cardiac output whereas total peripheral resistance decreased. Blood pressure remained unchanged. We conclude that peripheral chemoreflex regulation of ventilation and sympathetic vasomotor tone is paradoxically preserved in apnea divers, both, during the off and during the training season. The observation suggests that repeated arterial oxygen desaturation may not be sufficient explaining sympathetic reflex abnormalities similar to those in obstructive sleep apnea patients.

Performance of three minimally invasive cardiac output monitoring systems

We evaluated cardiac output (CO) using three new methods - the auto-calibrated FloTrac-Vigileo (CO(ed)), the non-calibrated Modelflow (CO(mf) ) pulse contour method and the ultra-sound HemoSonic system (CO(hs)) - with thermodilution (CO(td)) as the reference. In 13 postoperative cardiac surgical patients, 104 paired CO values were assessed before, during and after four interventions: (i) an increase of tidal volume by 50%; (ii) a 10 cm H(2)O increase in positive end-expiratory pressure; (iii) passive leg raising and (iv) head up position. With the pooled data the difference (bias (2SD)) between CO(ed) and CO(td), CO(mf) and CO(td) and CO(hs) and CO(td) was 0.33 (0.90), 0.30 (0.69) and -0.41 (1.11) l.min(-1), respectively. Thus, Modelflow had the lowest mean squared error, suggesting that it had the best performance. CO(ed) significantly overestimates changes in cardiac output while CO(mf) and CO(hs) values are not significantly different from those of CO(td). Directional changes in cardiac output by thermodilution were detected with a high score by all three methods.

Physiological changes of pregnancy and monitoring

Advances in medical care have led to increasing numbers of complex, high-risk obstetric patients. Specialist training and a sound knowledge of normal maternal physiology are essential to optimize outcomes. One of the earliest observed changes is peripheral vasodilatation; this causes a fall in systemic vascular resistance and triggers physiological changes in the cardiovascular and renal systems, with 40-50% increases in cardiac output and glomerular filtration rates. Safety concerns over Swan Ganz catheters have driven the increasing interest in alternative techniques, such as echocardiography, thoracic bioimpedance and pulse contour analysis, although their exact roles in future obstetric high-dependency care have yet to be established. Analysis of arterial blood gases is fundamental to the management of sick patients, and correct interpretation can be aided by a systematic approach. Observation charts are almost ubiquitous in all aspects of medicine, but little evidence exists to support their use in the high-dependency setting.

Tuba players reproduce a Valsalva maneuver while playing high notes

Playing wind instruments requires expiratory efforts. Blowing low notes on a tuba means a low resistance to expiration while playing high notes requires a strenuous expiratory strain. The resulting high intrathoracic pressure may reproduce a Valsalva maneuver. Ten tuba players were asked to blow medium loud long (15 seconds) notes at three different pitches (low, middle, and high) and to perform Valsalva maneuvers at 10, 40, and 60 mmHg. Blood pressure (BP) was measured continuously with a Finapres monitor. The four classic phases of the Valsalva maneuver were reproduced with the notes. The expiratory effort produced systolic BP and pulse pressure falls reaching about 24 mmHg with the high note or the Valsalva 60. BP and pulse pressure falls were linearly related to stroke volume reductions. Reflex heart rate (HR) changes were inversely related to BP falls, with maximal increases for the high notes (24 beats/minute) and Valsalva 60 (33 beats/minute). High baroreflex sensitivity was associated with a high HR response. Total peripheral resistance was reflexly elevated to counteract cardiac output reductions. During rebreathing, BP overshoots reached 30 mmHg for the high note and 53 mmHg for the Valsalva 60. Altogether, these findings indicate that blowing notes on a tuba reproduces the cardiovascular changes seen with a Valsalva maneuver with the effects of blowing high notes being close to a classic (40 mmHg) Valsalva maneuver. In addition, the baroreflex sensitivity might be a predictor of the ability to surmount the BP intolerance that could occur during wind instrument playing.

Central chemoreflex sensitivity and sympathetic neural outflow in elite breath-hold divers

Repeated hypoxemia in obstructive sleep apnea patients increases sympathetic activity, thereby promoting arterial hypertension. Elite breath-holding divers are exposed to similar apneic episodes and hypoxemia. We hypothesized that trained divers would have increased resting sympathetic activity and blood pressure, as well as an excessive sympathetic nervous system response to hypercapnia. We recruited 11 experienced divers and 9 control subjects. During the diving season preceding the study, divers participated in 7.3 ± 1.2 diving fish-catching competitions and 76.4 ± 14.6 apnea training sessions with the last apnea 3–5 days before testing. We monitored beat-by-beat blood pressure, heart rate, femoral artery blood flow, respiration, end-tidal CO2, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA). After a baseline period, subjects began to rebreathe a hyperoxic gas mixture to raise end-tidal CO2 to 60 Torr. Baseline MSNA frequency was 31 ± 11 bursts/min in divers and 33 ± 13 bursts/min in control subjects. Total MSNA activity was 1.8 ± 1.5 AU/min in divers and 1.8 ± 1.3 AU/min in control subjects. Arterial oxygen saturation did not change during rebreathing, whereas end-tidal CO2 increased continuously. The slope of the hypercapnic ventilatory and MSNA response was similar in both groups. We conclude that repeated bouts of hypoxemia in elite, healthy breath-holding divers do not lead to sustained sympathetic activation or arterial hypertension. Repeated episodes of hypoxemia may not be sufficient to drive an increase in resting sympathetic activity in the absence of additional comorbidities.

Acute changes in cardiovascular function during the onset period of daytime sleep: comparison to lying awake and standing

The siesta habit is associated with a 37% reduction in coronary mortality, possibly because of reduced cardiovascular stress associated with daytime sleep. Whether the most important behavior is the daytime nap itself, a supine posture, or the expectancy of a nap is unknown. We present the first detailed description on healthy individuals of the acute changes in cardiovascular function during defined phases of the daytime sleep-onset period. These responses were compared with lying awake and standing. Following a night of restricted (4 h) sleep, nine healthy participants (aged 34 ± 5 yr) were allowed to sleep at 1400 for up to 1 h. Polysomnography was used to calculate three phases of daytime sleep onset: phase 1, a baseline period of relaxed wakefulness before lights out; phase 2, the period between lights out and onset of stage 1 sleep; and phase 3, the period between onsets of stages 1 and 2 sleep. Differences (means ± SD) in blood pressure, heart rate, and forearm cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) between phases were analyzed. During the 9.7 ± 13.8 min of phase 2, systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 4.7 ± 4.5 and 3.6 ± 2.8 mmHg lower than baseline, whereas CVC was 9.5 ± 4.3% higher than baseline ( P < 0.05). Subsequent changes in cardiovascular function during the sleep itself were trivial ( P > 0.05). The above changes were not observed when subjects stood or laid supine in relaxed wakefulness for 1 h ( P > 0.05). Our findings suggest that the period between lights out and sleep onset is associated with the largest acute reduction in blood pressure during one afternoon siesta.

Is the magnitude of acute post-exercise hypotension mediated by exercise intensity or total work done?

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of exercise intensity on the magnitude of acute post-exercise hypotension while controlling for total work done over the exercise bout. Seven normotensive physically active males aged 28 +/- 6 years (mean +/- SD) completed four experimental trials, a no exercise control, 30 min of semi-recumbent cycling at 70% VO2peak (INT), cycling for 30 min at 40% VO2peak (SMOD) and cycling at 40% VO2peak for a time which corresponded to the same total work done as in the intense trial (LMOD). Blood pressure (BP), heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, core body temperature and forearm skin and limb blood flow were measured prior to and for 20 min following the exercise bout. Post-exercise summary statistics were compared between trials with a one-factor general linear model. The change in systolic BP, averaged over the 20-min post-exercise period was significantly lower only following the INT (-5 +/- 3 mm Hg) and LMOD exercise (-1 +/- 7 mm Hg) compared to values in control (P < 0.04). The changes in systolic BP and MAP following INT and LMOD were not significantly different from each other (P > 0.05). Similar results were obtained when the minimum values of these variables recorded during the post-exercise period were compared. Mean changes in cardiac output (1.9 +/- 0.3 l min(-1)) and total peripheral resistance (-3 +/- 1 mm Hg l(-1 )min(-1)) after INT exercise were also different from those in CON (P < 0.0005). The acute post-exercise reduction in BP was clinically similar following high intensity short duration exercise and moderate intensity longer duration exercise that was matched for total work done.

Preload maintenance and the left ventricular response to prolonged exercise in men

This study examined whether left ventricular function was reduced during 3 h of semi-recumbent ergometer cycling at 70% of maximal oxygen uptake while preload to the heart was maintained via saline infusion. Indices of left ventricular systolic function (end-systolic blood pressure-volume relationship, SBP/ESV) and diastolic filling (ratio of early to late peak filling velocities into the left ventricle, E:A) were calculated during recovery and compared with baseline resting data. During exercise in seven healthy, trained male subjects, an arterial catheter allowed continuous assessment of arterial pressure, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output ( ) and an index of contractility (dP/dt(max)). A venous catheter assessed that central venous pressure (CVP) was maintained throughout rest, exercise and 10 min into recovery. Both systolic blood pressure and heart rate (HR) increased with the onset of exercise (from 132 +/- 5 to 185 +/- 19 mmHg and from 66 +/- 9 to 135 +/- 23 beats min(-1); increases from rest to the end of the first 5 min of exercise in SBP and HR, respectively) but systolic blood pressure did not change from 30 to 180 min of exercise ( approximately 150 mmHg), while heart rate only increased by 8 +/- 9 beats min(-1) (means +/- s.d.; P > 0.05). The attenuated increase in HR compared with other studies suggests that the maintained CVP ( approximately 5 mmHg) helped to prevent cardiovascular drift in this protocol. Stroke volume, and dP/dt(max) were all increased with the onset of exercise (from 85 +/- 8 to 120 +/- 18 ml, from 5.4 +/- 1.3 to 16.5 +/- 3.3 l min(-1) and from 14.4 +/- 4 to 28 +/- 8 mmHg s(-1); values from rest to the end of the first 5 min of exercise for SV, and dP/dt(max), respectively) and were maintained during exercise. There was no difference in the SBP/ESV ratio from pre- to postexercise. Conversely, E:A was reduced from 2.0 +/- 0.4 to 1.6 +/- 0.5 postexercise (P < 0.05), returning to normal values at 24 h postexercise. This change in diastolic filling could not be fully explained (r(2) = 0.39) by an increased heart rate and, with CVP unchanged, it is likely to represent some depression of intrinsic relaxation properties of left ventricular myocytes. Three hours of semi-supine cycling resulted in no evidence of a depression in left ventricular systolic function, while left ventricular diastolic function declined postexercise.

Beat-to-beat analysis of pressure wave morphology for pre-symptomatic detection of orthostatic intolerance during head-up tilt

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to noninvasively define the hemodynamic profile characterizing the early response to tilting.

BACKGROUND

The mechanisms causing orthostatic intolerance have not been fully elucidated. Usually, patients undergoing tilt test are studied in a time-consuming way. Moreover, the test can cause discomfort to the patient and even be potentially hazardous.

METHODS

Nineteen orthostatic intolerant patients (OIP), compared with 22 healthy subjects (HS), performed head-up tilt test while their arterial pressure waveform was noninvasively recorded. We elaborated data using the Pressure Recording Analytical Method to obtain hemodynamic parameters, then analyzing the variables by discriminant analysis.

RESULTS

Compared with HS, OIP showed lower stroke volume index (SVI) values even in baseline conditions associated with higher values of systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and heart rate (HR). From the third minute of the tilted position and until symptoms appeared, patients exhibited lower values of blood pressure (BP) and SVI and higher HR values but no difference in SVR. At termination, patients showed a further significant reduction in BP and SVI and a persistent increase in HR.

CONCLUSIONS

This investigation underlines: 1) the possibility of beat-to-beat monitoring of hemodynamic changes during tilting; 2) the cardiovascular profile of OIP at rest, characterized by lower SVI and higher SVR and HR; 3) the maladaptive response to postural challenge of OIP mainly identifiable in impaired vascular regulation; and 4) the possibility of detecting parameters that enable prompt identification of the positive response to tiltingin these patients, thus guiding the duration of the test.

The effects of water ingestion on orthostatic hypotension in two groups of chronic autonomic failure: multiple system atrophy and pure autonomic failure

BACKGROUND

Oral ingestion of water increases seated blood pressure in patients with chronic autonomic failure by mechanisms that remain unclear. As orthostatic hypotension is common in chronic autonomic failure, and is not always adequately controlled by medication, the potential benefits of water ingestion on standing blood pressure were studied in two types of autonomic failure: multiple system atrophy (MSA), in which the lesion is central and pre-ganglionic, and pure autonomic failure (PAF), in which the lesion is post-ganglionic.

METHODS

In 14 patients with autonomic failure (seven PAF and seven MSA) standing blood pressure and heart rate were measured before, and 15 and 35 minutes after ingestion of 480 ml distilled water. Patients remained seated for 15 minutes after water ingestion, with beat to beat cardiovascular indices measured with the Portapres II device with subsequent Modelflow analysis.

RESULTS

Standing prior to water ingestion caused a significant fall in blood pressure in all patients. After water ingestion there was a rise in seated blood pressure. Seated and standing blood pressure at 15 and 35 minutes after water ingestion was significantly higher than before water, with an improvement in orthostatic symptoms. The time to first significant rise in seated blood pressure occurred at 5 minutes post water ingestion in PAF and at 13 minutes in MSA. These increases were accompanied by increases in total peripheral resistance, reaching significance by 5 minutes in PAF and 13 minutes in MSA. There were no significant changes in cardiac output, stroke volume, or ejection fraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Water is thus beneficial in improving standing BP in AF, acting within 15 minutes in both MSA and PAF. The earlier onset of the pressor effect in PAF may reflect the differing lesion site and underlying pathophysiology between these conditions.

Exaggerated platelet and hemodynamic reactivity to mental stress in men with coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE

This study compared the effects of acute mental stress on cardiovascular and subjective responses and platelet activation in male patients with established coronary artery disease (CAD) and age-matched controls.

METHODS

We assessed 17 male CAD patients aged 44 to 59 years and 22 healthy male controls. Blood pressure, heart rate, and hemodynamics were assessed before, during, and up to 2 hours after administration of color/word and mirror tracing tasks. Blood was sampled at baseline, after tasks, and at 30 and 75 minutes after stress, and platelet activation was assessed by measuring platelet-leukocyte aggregates (PLAs) using flow cytometry.

RESULTS

CAD patients showed significantly greater systolic blood pressure stress responses than controls (mean increases of 43.9 and 28.3 mm Hg, adjusted for income, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, and medication), together with larger increases in heart rate (14.1 and 4.7 bpm) and cardiac index. Total peripheral resistance increased during the poststress recovery period in CAD patients but not in controls. PLAs increased with stress in both groups, but remained elevated at 75 minutes in CAD patients, returning to baseline in controls. Heart rate and cardiac index responses were correlated with increases in subjective stress and with depression ratings, whereas PLA responses were associated with ratings of task difficulty.

CONCLUSION

Acute mental stress stimulated heightened cardiovascular responses in CAD patients, coupled with more prolonged platelet activation. These factors may contribute to plaque rupture and thrombogenesis, and partly mediate stress-induced triggering of acute coronary syndromes.

Socioeconomic status and hemodynamic recovery from mental stress

We assessed the changes in cardiac index and total peripheral resistance underlying blood pressure reactions and recovery from acute mental stress, in relation to socioeconomic status. A sample of 200 men and women aged 47-59 years was divided on the basis of occupation into higher, intermediate, and lower socioeconomic status groups. Blood pressure was monitored using the Portapres, and hemodynamic measures were derived by Modelflow processing of the arterial pressure waveform. Blood pressure increases during two stressful behavioral tasks were sustained by increases in cardiac index and total peripheral resistance. During the 45-min posttask recovery period, cardiac index fell below baseline levels, whereas peripheral resistance remained elevated. Peripheral resistance changes during recovery varied with socioeconomic status and blood pressure stress reactivity, with particularly high levels in reactive low status participants. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that disturbances of stress-related autonomic processes are relevant to the social gradient in cardiovascular disease risk.

Decrease in cardiac output and muscle sympathetic activity during vasovagal syncope

The importance of cardiac output (CO) to blood pressure level during vasovagal syncope is unknown. We measured thermodilution CO, mean blood pressure (MBP), and leg muscle mean sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) each minute during 60 degrees head-up tilt in 26 patients with recurrent syncope. Eight patients tolerated tilt (TT) for 45 min (mean age 60 +/- 5 yr) and 15 patients developed syncope during tilt (TS) (mean age 58 +/- 4 yr, mean tilt time 15.4 +/- 2 min). In TT patients, CO decreased during the first minute of tilt (from 3.2 +/- 0.2 to 2.5 +/- 0.3 l x min(-1) x m(-2), P = 0.001) and thereafter remained stable between 2.5 +/- 0.3 (P = 0.001) and 2.4 +/- 0.2 l x min(-1) x m(-2) (P = 0.004) at 5 and 45 min, respectively. In TS patients, CO decreased during the first minute (from 3.3 +/- 0.2 to 2.7 +/- 0.1 l x min(-1) x m(-2), P = 0.02) and was stable until 7 min before syncope, falling to 2.0 +/- 0.2 at syncope (P = 0.001). Regression slopes for CO versus time during tilt were -0.01 min(-1) in TT versus -0.1 l x min(-1) x m(-2) x min(-1) in TS (P = 0.001). However, MBP was more closely correlated to total peripheral resistance (R = 0.56, P = 0.001) and MSNA (R = 0.58, P = 0.001) than CO (R = 0.32, P = 0.001). In vasovagal reactions, a progressive decline in CO may contribute to hypotension some minutes before syncope occurs.

Clinical improvement in patients with orthostatic intolerance after treatment with bisoprolol and fludrocortisone

Orthostatic intolerance is the development of disabling symptoms upon assuming an upright posture that are relieved partially by resuming the supine position. Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is an orthostatic intolerance syndrome characterized by palpitations because of excessive orthostatic sinus tachycardia, lightheadedness, tremor, and near-syncope. Patients usually undergo extensive medical, cardiac, endocrine, neurologic, and psychiatric evaluation, which usually fails to identify a specific abnormality. The authors investigated the autonomic and hemodynamic profile of patients with POTS and the effectiveness of bisoprolol and fludrocortisone. The authors evaluated 11 female patients with POTS before and after medical treatment with a cardioselective bisoprolol beta-blocker or fludrocortisone, or both, and 11 age-matched control patients. Variability of heart rate and systolic blood pressure was assessed by fast Fourier transform, and spontaneous baroreceptor gain was assessed by use of the temporal sequences slope and alpha index. Modelflow was used to quantify hemodynamics. Symptoms in all patients improved greatly after medication. The autonomic and hemodynamic impairment observed in patients with POTS, particularly after orthostatic stress, is treated effectively with bisoprolol or fludrocortisone or both. These results need further confirmation in a controlled double-blind study. Proper medical treatment improves dramatically the clinical and autonomic-hemodynamic disturbances observed in patients with POTS. The data support the hypothesis that POTS is the result of a hyperadrenergic activation or hypovolemia during orthostasis.

Hemodynamic effects of intermittent manual lung hyperinflation in patients with septic shock

OBJECTIVE

The purposes of this study were to investigate the hemodynamic changes induced by intermittent manual lung hyperinflation (MHI) and to assess if these changes are adverse enough to warrant prohibition of MHI as a routine procedure in the care of patients with septic shock.

DESIGN

The study's design was experimental prospective.

SETTING

The settings were university hospital intensive care units.

PATIENTS

Subjects included 13 consecutive mechanically ventilated patients with septic shock who met the inclusion criteria.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Phasic MHI-related increments in mean inspiratory airway pressure were concordant to changes in mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) (r(2) = 0.67) with a 0.6 mm Hg rise in MPAP per cm H(2)O airway pressure. The magnitude of MPAP changes was not reflected in magnitude of stroke volume index (SVI) (r(2) = 0.06). On average, MHI did not induce statistically significant hemodynamic changes and mean values returned to baseline level within 15 minutes. SVI during MHI increased slightly in 9 patients, from 37 +/- 15 (mean +/- SD) to 41 +/- 17 mL/m(2) (P <.05), and decreased in 4, from 60 +/- 10 to 50 +/- 14 mL/m(2) (not significant). Patients with an increase in SVI had lower baseline values for SVI, cardiac index, and left ventricular stroke work index (P <.05) and higher values for systemic vascular resistance index compared with patients with a decrease in SVI (P <.05). Left ventricular stroke work index was higher in patients with a decrease in SVI than in patients with an increase in SVI (52 +/- 9 vs 34 +/- 8; P <.05). Tidal volume increased from 499 +/- 176 mL before MHI to 587 +/- 82 mL, 5 minutes after MHI (P <.05) with a return to baseline values within 15 minutes after the procedure.

CONCLUSION

The hemodynamic effects of intermittent MHI in patients with septic shock are relatively small and insignificant and seem to be related to the cardiovascular state before the procedure. The risk of inducing hemodynamic changes with MHI should not be considered as a contraindication in patients with septic shock who are mechanically ventilated.

Orthostatic tolerance, cerebral oxygenation, and blood velocity in humans with sympathetic failure

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Patients with orthostatic hypotension due to sympathetic failure become symptomatic when standing, although their capability to maintain cerebral blood flow is reported to be preserved. We tested the hypothesis that in patients with sympathetic failure, orthostatic symptoms reflect reduced cerebral perfusion with insufficient oxygen supply.

METHODS

This study addressed the relationship between orthostatic tolerance, mean cerebral artery blood velocity (V(mean), determined by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography), oxygenation (oxyhemoglobin [O(2)Hb], determined by near-infrared spectroscopy), and mean arterial pressure at brain level (MAP(MCA), determined by finger arterial pressure monitoring [Finapres]) in 9 patients (aged 37 to 70 years; 4 women) and their age- and sex-matched controls during 5 minutes of standing.

RESULTS

Supine MAP(MCA) (108+/-14 versus 86+/-14 mm Hg) and V(mean) (84+/-21 versus 62+/-13 cm. s(-1)) were higher in the patients. After 5 minutes of standing, MAP(MCA) was lower in the patients (31+/-14 versus 72+/-14 mm Hg), as was V(mean) (51+/-8 versus 59+/-9 cm. s(-1)), with a larger reduction in O(2)Hb (-11. 6+/-4 versus -6.7+/-4.5 micromol. L(-1)). Four patients terminated standing after 1 to 3.5 minutes. In these symptomatic patients, the orthostatic fall in V(mean) was greater (45+/-6 versus 64+/-10 cm. s(-1)), and the orthostatic decrease in O(2)Hb (-12.0+/-3.3 versus -7.6+/-3.9 micromol. L(-1)) tended to be larger. The reduction in MAP(MCA) was larger after 10 seconds of standing, and MAP(MCA) was lower after 1 minute (25+/-8 versus 40+/-6 mm Hg).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with sympathetic failure, the orthostatic reduction in cerebral blood velocity and oxygenation is larger. Patients who become symptomatic within 5 minutes of standing are characterized by a pronounced orthostatic fall in blood pressure, cerebral blood velocity, and oxygenation manifest within the first 10 seconds of standing.

Fludrocortisone and sleeping in the head-up position limit the postural decrease in cardiac output in autonomic failure

Treatment with head-up tilt sleeping and low-dose fludrocortisone effectively minimizes orthostatic symptoms and increases orthostatic blood pressure in patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the improvement in orthostatic blood pressure during combined treatment with low-dose fludrocortisone and nocturnal head-up tilt in patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension can be attributed to expansion of plasma volume or to increased total peripheral resistance. The effects of a 3-week treatment with fludrocortisone and nocturnal head-up tilting on the postural changes in arterial pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output (pulse contour) were evaluated in eight consecutive patients with orthostatic hypotension. The period during which the patients were able to remain in the standing position without orthostatic complaints increased minimally from 3 to 10 minutes. The decrease in arterial pressure after 1 minute of standing--(means with standard deviations in parentheses) systolic, 49 (20) mm Hg; diastolic, 18 (11) mm Hg--before treatment was produced by a greater than normal decrease in cardiac output: 37% (10%) in patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension versus -14% (8%) in control subjects. Treatment increased upright arterial pressure from 83 (19) mm Hg systolic and 55 (13) mm Hg diastolic to 114 (22) mm Hg systolic and 60 (16) mm Hg diastolic by limiting the decrease in cardiac output. Body weight increased but hematocrit did not change. Leg pressure-volume relationship decreased in the two patients studied. The responses of plasma renin activity and aldosterone to orthostatic stress prior to treatment were subnormal and became even lower after treatment. The improvement in upright blood pressure in orthostatic hypotension during treatment with fludrocortisone and nocturnal head-up sleeping is the result of a reduction in the orthostatic decrease in cardiac output. Preliminary data suggest that the expanded body fluid volume is allocated to the perivascular space rather than to the intravascular space.