title: Use of pressure-volume conductance catheters in real-time cardiovascular experimentation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most applications of pressure-volume conductance catheter measurements assess cardiovascular function at a single point in time after genetic, pharmacologic, infectious, nutritional, or toxicologic manipulation. Use of these catheters as a continuous monitor, however, is fraught with complexities and limitations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Examples of the limitations and optimal use of conductance catheters as a continuous, real-time monitor of cardiovascular function are demonstrated during inotropic drug infusion in anesthetised rats.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inotropic drug infusion may alter ventricular dimensions causing relative movement of a well-positioned catheter, generating artifacts, including an abrupt pressure rise at end-systole that leads to over estimation of indices of contractility (max dP/dt) and loss of stroke volume signal. Simple rotation of the catheter, echocardiography-guided placement to the centre of the ventricle, or ventricular expansion through crystalloid infusion may correct for these artifacts. Fluid administration, however, alters left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and volume and therefore stroke volume, thereby obscuring continuous real-time haemodynamic measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pressure-volume artifacts during inotropic infusion are caused by physical contact of the catheter with endocardium. Repeated correction of catheter position may be required to use pressure volume catheters as a continuous real-time monitor during manipulations that alter ventricular dimensions, such as inotropic therapy.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02135, USA.
authors: Abraham E
authors: AE
authors: Wei
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02135, USA. Electronic address: mikhail.maslov@steward.org.
authors: Mikhail Y
authors: MY
authors: Maslov
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02135, USA.
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Pezone
authors: Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
authors: Elazer R
authors: ER
authors: Edelman
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Steward St. Elizabeth's Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02135, USA.
authors: Mark A
authors: MA
authors: Lovich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D062906:Cardiac Catheters; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents
keywords: Dobutamine infusion; End-systolic pressure volume relationship; Max dP/dt; Pressure volume loop; Pressure-volume conductance catheter