title: Myocardial effects of local shock wave therapy in a Langendorff model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Applying shock waves to the heart has been reported to stimulate the heart and alter cardiac function. We hypothesized that shock waves could be used to diagnose regional viability.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a Langendorff model to investigate the acute effects of shock waves at different energy levels and times related to systole, cycle duration and myocardial function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found only a small time window to use shock waves. Myocardial fibrillation or extrasystolic beats will occur if the shock wave is placed more than 15 ms before or 30 ms after the onset of systole. Increased contractility and augmented relaxation were observed after the second beat, and these effects decreased after prolonging the shock wave delay from 15 ms before to 30 ms after the onset of systole. An energy dependency could be found only after short delays (-15 ms). The involved processes might include post-extrasystolic potentiation and simultaneous pacing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, we found that low-energy shock waves can be a useful tool to stimulate the myocardium at a distance and influence function.
authors.affiliation: Medical Clinic of Cardiology and Pulmonology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Pauwelstrasse 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goetzenich
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Roehl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Huebel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Fuente
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dietz-Laursonn
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Radermacher
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rossaint
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Contractility; Diagnostics; Heart rhythm; Myocardium; Shock wave