Effect of volume status on the estimation of mean systemic filling pressure

Various methods for indirect assessment of mean systemic filling pressure (MSFP) produce controversial results compared with MSFP at zero blood flow. We recently reported that the difference between MSFP at zero flow measured by right atrial balloon occlusion (MSFP RAO ) and MSFP estimated using inspiratory holds depends on the volume status. We now compare three indirect estimates of MSFP with MSFP RAO in euvolemia, bleeding, and hypervolemia in a model of anesthetized pigs ( n = 9) with intact circulation. MSFP was estimated using instantaneous beat-to-beat venous return during tidal ventilation (MSFP inst_VR ), right atrial pressure-flow data pairs at flow nadir during inspiratory holds (MSFP nadir_hold ), and a dynamic model analog adapted to pigs (MSFP a ). MSFP RAO was underestimated by MSFP nadir_hold and MSFP a in all volume states. Volume status modified the difference between MSFP RAO and all indirect methods (method × volume state interaction, P ≤ 0.020). All methods tracked changes in MSFP RAO concordantly, with the lowest bias seen for MSFP a [bias (confidence interval): -0.4 (-0.7 to -0.0) mmHg]. We conclude that indirect estimates of MSFP are unreliable in this experimental setup. NEW & NOTEWORTHY For indirect estimations of MSFP using inspiratory hold maneuvers, instantaneous beat-to-beat venous return, or a dynamic model analog, the accuracy was affected by the underlying volume state. All methods investigated tracked changes in MSFP RAO concordantly.