PRESSURE-FLOW STUDIES IN MAN DURING PULSUS ALTERNANS

Authors' Synopsis: Phasic aortic blood flow and left ventricular pressure were measured at constant heart rates during pulsus alternans in four patients. Duration of ejection and peak flow rate varied directly with stroke volume, while the pre-ejection period varied inversely. A higher left ventricular end-diastolic pressure preceded large beats in two patients, suggesting alternations of left ventricular filling contributed to pulsus alternans, but was not seen in two others.