Heart rate changes during the Valsalva maneuver in patients with isolated aortic insufficiency

Autor: Navarro A.E., Dávila D.F., Torres A., Bellabarba G., Donis J.H., Casado J.
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 1997
Předmět:
Zdroj: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research, Vol 30, Iss 9, Pp 1075-1080 (1997)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0100-879X
0034-7310
Popis: To determine the possible relationship between left ventricular dilatation and heart rate changes provoked by the Valsalva maneuver (Valsalva ratio), we studied 9 patients with isolated chronic aortic insufficiency. Left ventricular systolic function was assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. All patients were asymptomatic (functional class I of the New York Heart Association). The left ventricular internal diameters and volumes were significantly increased in all patients. The asymptomatic patients had either normal or slightly depressed ejection fraction (EF>0.40). The Valsalva ratio of these asymptomatic patients showed no significant correlation with the left ventricular volumes or with the left ventricular ejection fraction. In other words, parasympathetic heart rate control, as expressed by the Valsalva ratio, was normal in the asymptomatic patients with left ventricular dilatation and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Therefore, left ventricular dilatation may not be the major mechanism responsible for the abnormal parasympathetic heart rate control of patients with acquired heart disease
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals