[The analysis of radial artery pressure waveforms using 4 element model].
BACKGROUND
The pressure wave transmission from the aorta to the peripheral artery has rarely been analyzed using the physiological model linked to the entire vascular system. The goal of the present study is to clarify the law of causality between distortions of waveforms and cardiovascular conditions using a model.


METHODS
The arterial system was quantitatively analyzed with a 4-element model consisting of aortic characteristic impedance, inertance, peripheral resistance, and compliance, which shows the nature of second-order response. In order to elucidate the influence of the 4 elements on transmitting waveforms, we simulated cases in which these 4 elements change independently.


RESULTS
Large aortic characteristic impedance, low peripheral resistance, and increased compliance cause the damping of radial artery pressure wave.


CONCLUSIONS
The model approach enabled us to grasp the hemodynamics-related changes to the pressure waveforms, since each of the 4 elements corresponds to the vascular system with physical meanings.
Hayashi
Kazuko
K
Department of Anesthesiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto 602-8566.
Sigemi
Kenji
K
D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003187:Compliance; D017097:Electric Impedance; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance