A rapid hemodynamic monitor of acute ischemia during cardiac procedures: changes in relaxation via a continuous left ventricular pressure-derivative loop.

Background: Procedures that induce ischemic pre-conditioning during cardiac surgery will require a rapidly visualized hemodynamic monitor of acute ischemia. This study investigated the utility of a continuous loop tracing of left ventricular pressure (LVP) plotted against its derivative (dP/dt) as a visual beat-to-beat monitor of acute changes in myocardial relaxation due to global ischemia.

Materials And Methods: In 11 dogs, LVP, recorded via a micromanometer-tip catheter, was plotted against dP/dt as a continuous loop.