Hemodynamic Effects of Catecholamine Stimulation in Constrictive Pericarditis

Cardiac hemodynamic studies during control resting state and isoproterenol infusion were performed on five patients with constrictive pericarditis. During isoproterenol infusion, stroke volume increased by 60%, while there was no significant change in pulmonary wedge and right atrial mean pressures. The relatively fixed filling pressure is the indirect evidence of fixed diastolic size of the heart. However, the fixed cardiac size in diastole per se does not necessarily indicate hindrance to filling of the heart unless the limits of diastolic size of the heart are reached. It is concluded that during the supine resting state, when the influence of catecholamines is minimal, systolic emptying of ventricles is hindered. The systolic hindrance is, however, overcome by strong positive inotropic stimulation.