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The heart rate response to the valsalva manoeuvre

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Abstract

A simple noninvasive technique for assessing baroreceptor responsiveness is described utilising the changes in heart rate to a modified Valsalva manoeuvre. The response is expressed in terms of a derived parameter called the heart-rate sensitivity, which is defined as the variation in heart rate (beats per minute) before and after the manoeuvre per unit change in arterial blood pressure (mm Hg). Fourteen normotensive subjects showed an average value of heart-rate sensitivity of 1·51 (s.d.=0·55) over a total of 154 manoeuvres, while another group of seven yielded values always less than one. Each subject of the latter group (except one) reported some cardiovascular characteristic with possible clinical relevance.

Sommaire

On décrit une technique simple non-envahissante pour évaluer la réponse baroréceptive utilisant les changements du rythme cardiaque causés par un mouvement Valsalvaire modifié. La réponse est experiméesous forme d'un paramètre dérivé appelé sensibilité du rythme cardiaque et défini comme étant le changement du rythme cardiaque (hattements par minute) par unité de variation de la pression sanguine (mm Hg) avant et après le mouvement. Chez quatorze sujets normotensifs, la valeur moyenne de la sensibilité du rythme cardiaque était 1,51 (SD=0,55) au cours de 154 mouvements, alors que chez un autre groupe de sept les valeurs produits étaient toujours inférieures à un. Chaque sujet du second groupe (sauf un) souffrait d'une atteinte cardiovasculaire pouvant avoir une signification clinique.

Zusammenfassung

Ein einfaches, nicht aggressives Verfahren zur Beurteilung der Barorezeptor-Reaktion wird beschrieben, bei dem der geänderte Herzschlag durch ein geändertes Valsalva-Manoever verwendet wird. Die Reaktion wird durch ein abgeleitetes Parameter, das man die Herzschlagempfindlichkeit nennt, ausgedrûckt. Dies wird als die Änderung des Herzschlages (Herzschläge pro Minute) vor und nach dem Manoever pro geänderte Einheit im arteriellen Blutdruck (mm Hg) bezeichnet wird. Vierzehn Patienten mit normalem Blutdruck zeigten eine durschschnittliche Herzempfindlichkeit von 1,51 (SD=0,55) bei insgesamt 154 Manoevern, während die Werte bei einer weiteren Gruppe von sieben stets unter eines lagen. Jede Versuchsperson der letzteren Gruppe (außer einer) berichtete über kardiovaskuläre Eigenschaften, die evtl. klinische Bedeutung haben könnten.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Medical Center, 77025, Houston, Texas, USA

    M. E. Valentinuzzi & L. E. Baker

  2. Department of Physics Applied to Medicine, The Middlesex Hospital Medical School, W1P 6DB, London, England

    T. Powell

Authors
  1. M. E. Valentinuzzi
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  2. L. E. Baker
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  3. T. Powell
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Valentinuzzi, M.E., Baker, L.E. & Powell, T. The heart rate response to the valsalva manoeuvre. Med. & biol. Engng. 12, 817–822 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02477450

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02477450

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