The study demonstrates that the phasic superior vena caval flow pattern is determined by right atrial pressure alterations, challenging the concept of ventricular systolic suction.
Right atrial pressure may dictate phasic SVC flow; challenges ventricular suction hypothesis but remains hypothesis-generating.
In various arrhythmias in 18 patients, the superior vena caval instantaneous blood flow was recorded with an electromagnetic flowmeter during thoracic and cardiac surgery, and related to the right atrial and right ventricular pressure. Characteristic anomalies of the superior vena caval flow pattern were traced. In all cases there was a constant and inverse relationship between the contour of the right atrial pressure events and the superior vena caval flow pattern, indicating that the phasic caval pattern is determined by right atrial pressure alterations. The concept of “ventricular systolic suction”, as described by Brecher (1956), has not found any support in our study.
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Tor Fröysaker (1972) studied this question.
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