Roles of coronary circulation as a determinant of the left ventriculo-arterial interaction.

We investigated how coronary circulation influences the ventriculo-arterial interaction. For the quantitative analysis of this interaction, we proposed a simple framework where both ventricular property and vascular property were expressed as the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship. Combining this analysis with experimental data indicated the interactive nature of ventricular function that varied with loading condition through coronary circulation. Effects of regional ischemia on the ventriculo-arterial interaction was also analyzed. The loading condition insensitivity, simplicity and adequacy of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship of ventricle made it possible to analytically couple the ventricle with arterial system providing a useful view in understanding the complex hydraulic interaction between the ventricle and arterial system.