Effect of acute edema on left ventricular function and coronary vascular resistance in the isolated rat heart

The impact of acute myocardial edema on coronary flow and left ventricular performance was studied in isolated isovolumic rat hearts. After 15 min of aortic perfusion with Krebs-Henseleit buffer, hearts (10/group) were either removed for determination of water content or perfused for another 90 min. Three groups were perfused at a constant pressure of 60, 100, or 140 mmHg, and two groups were perfused at 60 or 140 mmHg with adenosine added. Compared with the 15-min group, there was a significant increase in water content in all groups except the 60-mmHg group (P < 0.005). There was a direct linear relationship between increases in coronary vascular resistance over time and water content (P < 0.0001). A decrease in developed pressure and peak +dP/dt was observed only in those groups that accumulated water. An inverse linear relationship was found between changes in developed pressure and water content (P = 0.0001). Water content had no effect on end-diastolic pressure below 5 ml/g; above 5 ml/g, a direct linear relationship was evident (P = 0.009). The results suggest that myocardial edema increases vascular resistance and decreases systolic performance. End-diastolic pressure is less influenced by edema than either systolic or coronary vascular function.