title: Cardiac power integral: a new method for monitoring cardiovascular performance.
abstract: Cardiac power (PWR) is the continuous product of flow and pressure in the proximal aorta. Our aim was to validate the PWR integral as a marker of left ventricular energy transfer to the aorta, by comparing it to stroke work (SW) under multiple different loading and contractility conditions in subjects without obstructions in the left ventricular outflow tract. Six pigs were under general anesthesia equipped with transit time flow probes on their proximal aortas and Millar micromanometer catheters in their descending aortas to measure PWR, and Leycom conductance catheters in their left ventricles to measure SW. The PWR integral was calculated as the time integral of PWR per cardiac cycle. SW was calculated as the area encompassed by the pressure-volume loop (PV loop). The relationship between the PWR integral and SW was tested during extensive mechanical and pharmacological interventions that affected the loading conditions and myocardial contractility. The PWR integral displayed a strong correlation with SW in all pigs (R (2) > 0.95, P < 0.05) under all conditions, using a linear model. Regression analysis and Bland Altman plots also demonstrated a stable relationship. A mixed linear analysis indicated that the slope of the SW-to-PWR-integral relationship was similar among all six animals, whereas loading and contractility conditions tended to affect the slope. The PWR integral followed SW and appeared to be a promising parameter for monitoring the energy transferred from the left ventricle to the aorta. This conclusion motivates further studies to determine whether the PWR integral can be evaluated using less invasive methods, such as echocardiography combined with a radial artery catheter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim, Norway ; Clinic of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Trondheim University Hospital Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Audun E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rimehaug
authors.affiliation: Unit of Comparative Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Oddveig
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lyng
authors.affiliation: Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim, Norway ; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Trondheim University Hospital Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Dag O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Nordhaug
authors.affiliation: Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Lasse
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Løvstakken
authors.affiliation: Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim, Norway ; Department of Thoracic Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Trondheim University Hospital Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Petter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aadahl
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Trondheim University Hospital Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Idar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kirkeby-Garstad
keywords: Cardiac power output; left ventricular energy production; stroke work