Investigation of the influence of manual ventilation-controlled respiration on right ventricular pressure-volume loops and echocardiographic variables in healthy anesthetized dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of manual ventilation-controlled respiration on right ventricular (RV) pressure-volume loop-derived and echocardiographic variables in dogs.

Animals: 8 healthy, anesthetized Beagles.

Procedures: In a prospective experimental study, pressure-volume catheters were percutaneously inserted into the right ventricle of each dog, and manual ventilation was performed; RV pressure-volume loop (hemodynamic) data and conventional echocardiographic variables were assessed. Two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography-derived RV strain (RVS) and RV systolic strain rate (RVSR) were obtained with RV free wall-only analysis (free wall) and RV global analysis (RVGA; interventricular septum). Variables were compared between end-inspiratory and end-expiratory phases of respiration by statistical methods. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess associations between selected hemodynamic and echocardiographic variables.

Results: The RV pressure significantly increased, and RV volume, stroke volume, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, RV fractional area change, peak myocardial systolic velocity of the lateral tricuspid annulus, and RV free wall only-assessed RVS and RVSR significantly decreased in the inspiratory phase, compared with the expiratory phase. There were no significant differences in end-systolic elastance or RVGA-assessed RVS or RVSR between respiratory phases. The RVGA-assessed RVSR was significantly associated with stroke volume and end-systolic elastance.

Conclusions And Clinical Relevance: Specific RV echocardiographic variables were significantly affected by respiration. In contrast, RVS and RVSR determined with RVGA were not affected by respiration and were associated with hemodynamic indicators of RV contractility.