title: Does thoracic pump influence the cerebral venous return?
abstract: We assessed the hemodynamic effects induced by the thoracic pump in the intra- and extracranial veins of the cerebral venous system on healthy volunteers. Activation of the thoracic pump was standardized among subjects by setting the deep inspiration at 70% of individual vital capacity. Peak velocity (PV), time average velocity (TAV), vein area (VA), and flow quantification (Q) were assessed by means of echo color Doppler in supine posture. Deep respiration significantly increases PV, TAV, and Q, but it is limited to the extracranial veins. To the contrary, no significant hemodynamic changes were recorded at the level of the intracranial venous network. Moreover, at rest TAV in the jugular veins was significantly correlated with Q of the intracranial veins. We conclude that the modulation of the atmospheric pressure operated by the thoracic pump significantly modifies the hemodynamics of the jugular veins and of the reservoir of the neck and facial veins, with no effect on the vein network of the intracranial compartment.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Diseases Center, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zamboni
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Menegatti
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pomidori
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morovic
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taibi
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Malagoni
authors.forename: Anna Luisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cogo
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gambaccini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002550:Cerebral Veins / Q000502:physiology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D013900:Thoracic Nerves / Q000502:physiology*