Evidence of cardiac suction in the presence of high end-diastolic filling pressure: a case report

J Heart Valve Dis. 1994 May;3(3):300-2.

Abstract

Cardiac suction has been previously demonstrated in the normal heart and in cardiac diseases characterized by a normal or reduced end-diastolic ventricular pressure. We report a patient with tight mitral stenosis and severe tricuspid regurgitation who provides the evidence of cardiac suction, despite the presence of increased end-diastolic pressures. The negative diastolic pressures observed in our patient appear to be related to the preservation of a vigorous contraction of both ventricles resulting in small end-systolic volumes. In this setting the elastic potential energy stored in the myocardium during each vigorous contraction is released during diastole, thus creating a negative pressure which sucks blood into the ventricles.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Diastole
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis / complications
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis / physiopathology*
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / complications
  • Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency / physiopathology*
  • Ventricular Function, Left / physiology*
  • Ventricular Pressure*