Graded myocardial ischemia is associated with a decrease in diastolic distensibility of the remote nonischemic myocardium in the anesthetized dog.

OBJECTIVES

This study was designed to investigate the changes in regional distensibility of the ischemic segment and of a remote nonischemic segment brought about by graded myocardial ischemia.

BACKGROUND

Ventricular distensibility is a major determinant of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. The effects of graded myocardial ischemia on the regional distensibility of the ischemic area have not been studied. Moreover, there are few data on the effects of myocardial ischemia on the regional distensibility of the nonischemic myocardium.

METHODS

Nine anesthetized open chest mongrel dogs were fitted with instruments to measure left ventricular pressure and circumferential length (sonomicrometry) in the ischemic segment and in a nonischemic segment. The pressure-length relation was modified by stepwise infusion and withdrawal of 200 ml of each dog's own blood over 30 min in five consecutive stages of regional ischemia. Unstressed dimensions were obtained by repeated inferior vena cava occlusions. In both segments, regional distensibility was assessed at end-diastole by means of the constants of the pressure-length (chamber stiffness), the pressure-strain and the force-strain (myocardial stiffness) relations.

RESULTS

In the ischemic segment, partial and complete coronary occlusions were associated with a twofold increase in the chamber stiffness constant, the pressure-strain constant and the myocardial stiffness constant, whereas in the nonischemic segment the chamber stiffness constant, the pressure-strain constant and the myocardial stiffness constant increased by 50%.

CONCLUSIONS

Regional myocardial ischemia is associated with a decrease in distensibility of both the ischemic and the remote nonischemic myocardium.