CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENTS OF ARTERIAL FLOW IN MAN DURING ATRIAL AND VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS

Measurements of arterial flow using the transcutaneous or implanted technic with the Doppler shift ultrasonic telemetry system was studied in 190 patients. Fifty were normal subjects and 140 had diseased hearts. All had some form of atrial or ventricular arrhythmia during the study. The phenomenon of post-extrasystolic augmentation occurred with both atrial and ventricular extrasystoles (greater for ventricular extrasystoles) and was dependent chiefly on the timing of the extrasystole. Atrial and ventricular tachycardia resulted in a decrease in peripheral arterial flow which occurred only at rapid rates, above 140 to 160 per minute. The contribution of atrial contraction to the peripheral arterial flow was not as great as expected. In patients in whom restoration of regular sinus rhythm resulted in greater peak flow velocity this was of the magnitude of 10 per cent or less. © 1969.