Can the human right ventricle create a negative diastolic pressure suggestive of suction?

Pressure in the right ventricle (RV) as well as the right atrium (RA) and pulmonary artery (PA) were measured in 80 patients with catheter-tip micromanometers and evaluated to determine if the pressures are compatible with the concept of RV diastolic suction. In 40 patients with normal PA pressure, minimal RV diastolic pressure that occurred during early filling, was negative (-2 +/- 0.3 mm Hg) (mean +/- SEM). In 29 patients with PA hypertension, minimal RV diastolic pressure during expiration also was negative (-2 +/- 0.7 mm Hg). In 11 patients with right ventricular failure, however, minimal RV diastolic pressure was positive (9 +/- 2 mm Hg). These results indicate that the human right ventricle, in the absence of failure, has a negative early diastolic pressure, which may reflect RV diastolic suction.