Normal fluctuations in pulmonary artery pressures and cardiac output in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction

Background: One barrier to accurate interpretation of changes in hemodynamic pressures and cardiac output is lack of data about what constitutes a normal fluctuation. Few investigators have examined normal fluctuations in these parameters and none have done so in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Aims: To describe normal fluctuations in pulmonary artery pressures and cardiac output in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Methods: Hemodynamically stable advanced heart failure patients (N=39; 55±6 years old; 62% male) with left ventricular dysfunction (mean ejection fraction 22±5%) were studied. Cardiac output and pulmonary artery pressures were measured every 15 min for 2 h. Results: Mean±standard deviation fluctuations were as follows: pulmonary artery systolic pressure=7±4 mmHg; pulmonary artery diastolic pressure=6±3 mmHg; pulmonary capillary wedge pressure=5±3 mmHg; cardiac output=0.7±0.3 l/min. The coefficient of variation for fluctuations in pulmonary artery systolic pressure was 6.7%, in pulmonary artery diastolic pressure was 9.3%, in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was 9.2%, and in cardiac output was 7.2%. Conclusions: Values that vary <8% for pulmonary artery systolic pressure, <11% for pulmonary artery diastolic pressure, <12% for pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and <9% for cardiac output from baseline represent normal fluctuations in these parameters in patients with left ventricular dysfunction.