Lower body positive pressure by anti-G garment inflation: a suitable method to increase pulmonary capillary wedge pressure in healthy elderly subjects

• Published in: Clinical physiology and functional imaging 2005-01, Vol.25 (1), p.27-33
• Main Authors: Remmen, J. J., Aengevaeren, W. R. M., Verheugt, F. W. A., Bos, A., Jansen, R. W. M. M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: afterload; Aged; Air breathing; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - physiology; cardiac output; Cardiac Output - physiology; Female; Finapres; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gravity Suits; haemodynamics; Humans; Male; non-invasive; Posture - physiology; preload; Pressure; Pulmonary Wedge Pressure - physiology; Reference Values; Respiratory system: anatomy, metabolism, gas exchange, ventilatory mechanics, respiratory hemodynamics; Time Factors; Vascular Resistance - physiology; Vertebrates: respiratory system
• ISSN: 1475-0961; 1475-097X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-097X.2004.00582.x

Summary In a study on non‐invasive assessment of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP), we sought a method to increase PCWP non‐invasively. We hypothesized that inflation of an anti‐G garment was suitable to increase PCWP non‐invasively in healthy elderly subjects. In 20 subjects, aged 70 ± 4 years (mean ± SD), before, immediately after, and 4 min after anti‐G garment inflation to 52 mmHg, PCWP and mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) were measured with a Swan‐Ganz catheter, and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) with Finapres, in supine and semi‐recumbent position. Supine, PCWP (mmHg, mean ± SD) increased from 9·9 ± 2·1 to 15·5 ± 3·9** immediately after inflation and 13·4 ± 3·7** at 4 min; semi‐recumbent from 8·9 ± 2·0 to 17·5 ± 3·3** and 14·7 ± 2·9** (*P