A new method for estimation of the left ventricular pressure-volume area

A method is presented for obtaining the pressure-volume area (PVA) as defined by H. Suga and K. Sugawa (see Circ. Res., vol.32, p.314, 1973). The method allows calculation of the PVA from pressure and flow waveforms of ejecting beats and requires only one isovolumic ventricular contraction performed at any end-diastolic volume. The major advantages of the method are that it eliminates the requirement for a volume measurement and for repeated isovolumic beats. All the calculations are based on a normalized function obtained from a single isovolumic beat and pressure flow data for the ejecting beat of interest.<
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