Arteriolar blood flow pulsatility in a patient before and after implantation of an axial flow pump.
In a patient with end stage ischemic heart failure scheduled for implantation of an axial flow pump small arteriolar flow pattern was recorded using a novel intravital microscope. Preoperative arteriolar blood flow velocity was highly pulsatile, ranging from about 7 to 16 mm per second in a 12.8 microm diameter arteriole. After implantation of the pump, this pulsatility was abrogated and arteriolar blood flow velocity changed instantaneously with changes in pump speed (eg, 2 mm/s at 5,000 rpm vs 3.5 mm/s at 8,000 rpm in an 8.9 microm diameter arteriole). This lack of flow velocity oscillations may have profound long-term effects on shear stress regulated arteriolar remodeling.
Institute of Physiology, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany. helmut.habazettl@charite.de
Helmut
H
Habazettl
Marian
M
Kukucka
Yu G
YG
Weng
Wolfgang M
WM
Kuebler
Roland
R
Hetzer
Hermann
H
Kuppe
Axel R
AR
Pries
D001160:Arterioles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology*; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D014059:Tongue / Q000098:blood supply