Variations of cardiac rate and hemodynamic criteria of rejection.
Since heart rate influences the values of many hemodynamic parameters, the authors have examined the effect of heart rate variations noted after cardiac transplantation on the hemodynamic criteria of rejection. They have undertaken serial studies at intrinsic rate and at a paced atrial rate of 150 beats/min in 11 resting homotransplanted dogs. The authors analysed cardiac index, stroke volume, peak velocity, acceleration, stroke power and stroke work. Results at intrinsic and paced atrial rates were compared during each of three phases of postoperative evolution: phase II (2 to 3 days after transplantation), phase III (4 to 5 days) and phase IV (6 to 7 days postoperatively). Phase II, being the period of maximum recovery, served as a baseline for comparing the cardiac parameters in phases III (the initial phase of rejection) and phase IV (24 hours before death). The authors found that the patterns of change were similar at intrinsic and paced atrial rates and concluded that heart rate variation does not significantly influence the hemodynamic criteria of rejection.