Effect of the pericardium on atrial systolic function.

The effect of pericardial constraint on atrial systolic function was investigated in nine acutely instrumented anesthetized dogs. Left and right atrial pressures were recorded by high-fidelity catheters; auricular diameters and free wall segment lengths were measured by sonomicrometry. Atrial function curves were constructed by relating atrial systolic dimensional shortening to atrial end-diastolic pressure during progressive volume loading. With the pericardium closed, the function curves were shifted markedly downward and rightward, such that atrial systolic shortening was reduced at any given pressure. There was a concomitant leftward and upward shift of the atrial end-diastolic pressure-dimension relationship. The relationship between atrial systolic shortening and atrial end-diastolic dimension was not shifted. These results suggest that the apparent depression of atrial systolic function with the pericardium closed is due to a restrictive effect of the pericardium on atrial filling. In conclusion, in the acutely dilated heart, the pericardium restricts atrial filling and thus causes a reduction in atrial systolic contribution to ventricular filling.