Dynamic Decomposition of Poincaré Plots for Multivariate Analysis and Visualization of Simultaneously Recorded Physiological Time Series

We apply the dynamic decomposition of Poincar plots, which is a computationally intensive, visual method of analysing physiological time series, to the analysis of the interbeat interval variability, systolic blood pressure, stroke volume and total peripheral resistance which were simultaneously recorded from a patient with pheochromocytoma and rapid, repetitive haemodynamic changes over 6 hours. The resulting animation is analysed and interpreted. It is found that changes in total peripheral resistance usually precede those of other variables, and the magnitude of changes is greatest for this variable. It is demonstrated that the decomposition of Poincar plots of multivariate signals can visualise both the order and the extent of ongoing instant changes.