Collapsibility of caval vessels and right ventricular afterload: decoupling of stroke volume variation from preload during mechanical ventilation

Background: Collapsibility of caval vessels and stroke volume and pulse pressure variations (SVV, PPV) are used as indicators of volume responsiveness. Their behavior under increasing airway pressures and changing right ventricular afterload is incompletely understood. If the phenomena of SVV and PPV augmentation are manifestations of decreasing preload, they should be accompanied by decreasing transmural right atrial pressures. Methods: Eight healthy pigs equipped with ultrasonic flow probes on the pulmonary artery were exposed to positive end-expiratory pressure of 5 and 10 cmH2O and three volume states (Euvolemia, defined as SVV < 10%, Bleeding and Retransfusion). SVV and PPV were calculated for the right and PPV for the left side of the circulation at increasing inspiratory airway pressures (15, 20, 25 cmH2O). Right ventricular afterload was assessed by surrogate flow profile parameters. Transmural pressures in the right atrium and the inferior and superior caval vessels (IVC and SVC) were determined. Results: Increasing airway pressure led to increases in ultrasonic surrogate parameters of right ventricular afterload, increasing transmural pressures in the right atrium and SVC, and a drop in transmural IVC pressure. SVV and PPV increased with increasing airway pressure, despite the increase in right atrial transmural pressure. Right ventricular stroke volume variation correlated with indicators of right ventricular afterload. This behavior was observed in both PEEP levels and all volume states. Conclusions: Stroke volume variation may reflect changes in right ventricle afterload, rather than changes in preload.

Right ventricular adaptation in the critical phase after acute intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism

Background The haemodynamic response following acute, intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism is not well described. We aimed to describe the cardiovascular changes in the initial, critical phase 0–12 hours after acute pulmonary embolism in an in-vivo porcine model. Methods Pigs were randomly allocated to pulmonary embolism ( n = 6) or sham ( n = 6). Pulmonary embolism was administered as autologous blood clots (20 × 1 cm) until doubling of mean pulmonary arterial pressure or mean pulmonary arterial pressure was greater than 34 mmHg. Sham animals received saline. Cardiopulmonary changes were evaluated for 12 hours after intervention by biventricular pressure–volume loop recordings, invasive pressure measurements, arterial and central venous blood gas analyses. Results Mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased ( P < 0.0001) and stayed elevated for 12 hours in the pulmonary embolism group compared to sham. Pulmonary vascular resistance and right ventricular arterial elastance (right ventricular afterload) were increased in the first 11 and 6 hours, respectively, after pulmonary embolism ( P < 0.01 for both) compared to sham. Right ventricular ejection fraction was reduced ( P < 0.01) for 8 hours, whereas a near-significant reduction in right ventricular stroke volume was observed ( P = 0.06) for 4 hours in the pulmonary embolism group compared to sham. Right ventricular ventriculo–arterial coupling was reduced ( P < 0.05) for 6 hours following acute pulmonary embolism despite increased right ventricular mechanical work in the pulmonary embolism group ( P < 0.01) suggesting right ventricular failure. Conclusions In a porcine model of intermediate-risk pulmonary embolism, the increased right ventricular afterload caused initial right ventricular ventriculo–arterial uncoupling and dysfunction. After approximately 6 hours, the right ventricular afterload returned to pre-pulmonary embolism values and right ventricular function improved despite a sustained high pulmonary arterial pressure. These results suggest an initial critical and vulnerable phase of acute pulmonary embolism before haemodynamic adaptation.

Pulmonary vasodilation in acute pulmonary embolism – a systematic review

Acute pulmonary embolism is the third most common cause of cardiovascular death. Pulmonary embolism increases right ventricular afterload, which causes right ventricular failure, circulatory collapse and death. Most treatments focus on removal of the mechanical obstruction caused by the embolism, but pulmonary vasoconstriction is a significant contributor to the increased right ventricular afterload and is often left untreated. Pulmonary thromboembolism causes mechanical obstruction of the pulmonary vasculature coupled with a complex interaction between humoral factors from the activated platelets, endothelial effects, reflexes and hypoxia to cause pulmonary vasoconstriction that worsens right ventricular afterload. Vasoconstrictors include serotonin, thromboxane, prostaglandins and endothelins, counterbalanced by vasodilators such as nitric oxide and prostacyclins. Exogenous administration of pulmonary vasodilators in acute pulmonary embolism seems attractive but all come with a risk of systemic vasodilation or worsening of pulmonary ventilation-perfusion mismatch. In animal models of acute pulmonary embolism, modulators of the nitric oxide-cyclic guanosine monophosphate-protein kinase G pathway, endothelin pathway and prostaglandin pathway have been investigated. But only a small number of clinical case reports and prospective clinical trials exist. The aim of this review is to give an overview of the causes of pulmonary embolism-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction and of experimental and human investigations of pulmonary vasodilation in acute pulmonary embolism.