The effect of acute hypoxia on right ventricular function in healthy adults.
Right ventricular ejection fraction and right ventricular volumes were derived in 12 healthy male subjects using krypton-81m equilibrium radionuclide ventriculography whilst subjects breathed 30% (high inspired oxygen) and then 8-12% oxygen in nitrogen mixture (hypoxia). 'Physiological' tricuspid valve regurgitation was identified in 7 of the subjects by Doppler echocardiography, and right ventricular peak systolic pressure was estimated during high inspired oxygen and during hypoxia. Mean right ventricular peak systolic pressure was 24.1 +/- 3.3 mmHg during high inspired oxygen and increased to 41.3 +/- 8.4 mmHg during hypoxia (P less than 0.01). Mean right ventricular ejection fraction was 0.612 +/- 0.075 during high inspired oxygen and was unchanged at 0.590 +/- 0.073 during hypoxia. There was no significant change in right ventricular end-diastolic volume or stroke volume in response to hypoxia. The systolic performance of the normal right ventricle is well-maintained during an acute rise in afterload induced by hypoxia.
Oliver
R M
RM
Clinical Pharmacology Group, University of Southhampton and U.K.
Peacock
A J
AJ
Challenor
V F
VF
Fleming
J S
JS
Waller
D G
DG
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002306:Cardiac Volume / Q000502:physiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D015635:Radionuclide Ventriculography; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right / Q000502:physiology*