Comparison of measures of left ventricular contractile performance derived from pressure-volume loops in conscious dogs.

Three measures of left ventricular (LV) performance derived from pressure (P)-volume (V) loops have been proposed: the end-systolic P-V (PES-VES) relation, the stroke work-end-diastolic V (SW-VED) relation, and maximum dP/dt-VED (dP/dtmax-VED) relation. We evaluated the variability of repeated determinations, and inotropic and load sensitivity of these relations in conscious dogs. LVV was determined from three orthogonal LV diameters measured by sonomicrometry. Three to six sets of variably loaded P-V loops were generated by transient caval occlusions before and again after increasing inotropic state by infusing dobutamine (6 +/- 1 microgram/kg/min, mean +/- SD) and after increasing PES by 49 +/- 17 mm Hg with phenylephrine following autonomic blockade. The slope (MSW) of the SW-VED relation was the least variable at constant inotropic state (coefficient of variation, 4 +/- 3%) compared with the slope (EES) of the PES-VES relation (8 +/- 3%) or the slope (dE/dtmax) of the dP/dtmax-VED relation (11 +/- 6%,...