Comparison between single-beat and multiple-beat methods for estimation of right ventricular contractility.

OBJECTIVE: It was investigated whether pharmacologically induced changes in right ventricular contractility can be detected by a so-called "single-beat" method that does not require preload reduction. DESIGN: Prospective animal research. SETTING: Laboratory at a large university medical center. SUBJECTS: Eight anesthetized pigs. INTERVENTIONS: End-systolic elastance values obtained by a recently proposed single-beat method (Eessb) were compared with those obtained using the reference multiple-beat method (Eesmb). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Administration of dobutamine increased Eesmb from 1.6 +/- 0.3 to 3.8 +/- 0.5 mm Hg/mL (p =.001), whereas there was only a trend toward an increase in Eessb from 1.5 +/- 0.2 to 1.7 +/- 0.4 mm Hg/mL. Esmolol decreased Eesmb from 1.7 +/- 0.3 to 1.1 +/- 0.2 mm Hg/mL (p =.006), whereas there was only a trend for a decrease in Eessb from 1.5 +/- 0.2 to 1.3 +/- 0.1. CONCLUSIONS: The present method using single-beat estimation to assess right ventricular contractility does not work as expected, since it failed to detect either increases or decreases in right ventricular contractility induced by pharmacologic interventions.