1. Tom Archer, MD, MBA UCSD Anesthesiology May 9, 2011
Radial pulse analysis, central blood pressure and cardiovascular health: an historical curiosity makes a comeback.
Tom Archer, MD, MBA
UCSD Anesthesiology
May 9, 2011

2. Pulse analysis was practiced in Chinese medicine thousands of years ago.

3. Pulse analysis was also serious business in the 19th century in Europe and the USA
Sphygmographs in common use.
Insurance companies relied on their results.

4. Etienne-Jules Marey ( ) invented the sphygmograph to record the arterial pulse on smoked paper. It was used by Engelmann, Mackenzie and Wenckebach.
Sphygmograph 1876

5. Life insurance examination manual from 1891 discussed pulse analysis by sphygmography.

7. Tom Archer, 58 y. o. , good general health
Tom Archer, 58 y.o., good general health. Takes Crestor for high cholesterol.
Radial and predicted ascending aortic pressure waveform when subject is cold.

8. Scipione Riva-Rocci introduced the mercury sphygmo-manometer in 1896.
Measured systolic BP only.

9. Korotkoff introduced auscultation for diastolic pressure in 1905.
Harvey Cushing used it.
Korotkoff introduced auscultation for diastolic pressure in 1905.
history.library.ucsf.edu/.../chapter2_03.html

10. In the 20th century, Riva-Rocci and Korotkoff’s sphygmomanometer eclipsed pulse analysis
Two simple numbers: systolic / diastolic.
Easy to use.
Pulse analysis fell into disuse.
20th century saw tremendous gains from simple sphygmomanometry: dangers of high BP.

11. But simple sphygmomanometry ignores valuable information within the pulse trace.
Extra information can be extracted from the pulse using high fidelity transducers, computers and a “generalized transfer function”, which has been validated.
Specifically, the Central Blood Pressure (CBP) can be calculated using the radial pulse contour and the non-invasive brachial blood pressure.
CBP is the pressure in the ascending aorta.

12. LV “sees” the SBP in the ascending aorta.
With normal aortic valve, LV wall tension depends on pressure in ascending aorta
(and diameter of LV chamber).
health.yahoo.com/topic/heart/overview/article...

13. SphygmoCor system for measuring central blood pressures

14. Central blood pressure (CBP)
Diastolic and mean pressures are very similar at radial / brachial and central sites, but
Systolic CBP is not the same as brachial or radial systolic BP!

15. What creates central BP?
#2 Stiffness of aorta (“windkessel”)
AIR
BLOOD
heart
Central BP
#1 SV
veins
arteries
#4 Wave reflection–
timing and amount
#3 Systemic vascular resistance (resistance arterioles)
Muscular arteries

16. Augmentation Index (AIx) = Augmentation Pressure /
If reflected wave travels fast and arrives during systole it creates “augmentation pressure”, extra pressure work for the heart during systole.
Augmentation Index (AIx) =
Augmentation Pressure /
Pulse Pressure
Kozo Hirata, MD; Masanobu Kawakami, MD; Michael F O’Rourke, MD, DSc*Circ J 2006; 70: 1231–1239

17. A high augmentation index is a deadly backdraft of pressure which exhausts the heart over time.

18. Run animation Wave reflection animation can be found at:

19. Augmentation Index (AIx)
High AIx = unnecessary heart work.
High AIx leads to LVH and cardiomyopathy.
Lower AIx is better.
Treatments that lower AIx help the patient.

20. When is AIx high-- chronically?
Normal aging
Obesity
Atherosclerosis
Diabetes
Pre-eclampsia
Inflammatory arthritis
Renal failure

21. As healthy individuals age, reflected wave arrives at ascending aorta earlier and increases augmentation index and central pulse pressure. Three members of same family.
WW Nichols Curr Opin Cardiol 2002, 17:543–551

22. Central BPs– ASCOT / CAFE study
Lower central BPs are associated with better CV outcomes.
Amlodipine achieved lower central BPs and had better CV outcomes than atenolol, despite achieving the same brachial artery BPs.
CAFE / ASCOT study, M. O’Rourke (Circulation. 2006;113: )

23. Four months Rx with lisinopril decreased central aortic pulse pressure and augmentation index.
WW Nichols Curr Opin Cardiol 2002, 17:543–551

24. 6 months Rx with atorvastatin decreased central aortic pulse pressure and augmentation index.
WW Nichols Curr Opin Cardiol 2002, 17:543–551

25. ACE inhibitors and aldosterone antagonists reverse LV hypertrophy– via central BP effects?.
Adams KF, Am J Health-Syst Pharm—Vol 61 May 1, 2004 Suppl 2

26. ACE inhibitors, statins and aldosterone antagonists can reverse LV hypertrophy— is this due to decreased AIx and strain on the heart?

27. What makes AIx go down-- chronically?
Exercise
Weight loss
Red wine
Statins
Control of blood pressure (ACEI and CCB)
NTG

29. Ultra-marathon runner, 30 yo, at rest, seated. AIx = -14%
Ultra-marathon runner, 30 yo, at rest, seated. AIx = -14%. Note high diastolic radial and CBP.

30. When is AIx high– acutely?
Arterial compression in legs (squatting)
Cold body temperature.
Nicotine ingestion

31. Tom Archer, 58 y.o., while squatting.
AIx = 21%

32. Tom Archer, seated, very cold from being outside in winter.
AIx = 27%

33. Exposure of healthy young adults to cold air for 30 min increases augmentation index.
David G. Edwards,1 Amie L. Gauthier,2 Melissa A. Hayman,2 Jesse T. Lang,2 and Robert W. Kenefick2J Appl Physiol 100: 1210–1214, 2006.

34. What makes AIx decrease-- acutely?
Exercise
Alcohol
Lowering blood pressure
NTG

35. Tom Archer, 58 yo, after work, seated comfortably. AIx = 11%.

36. Tom Archer, 58 yo, after exercise and wine.
AIx = 1%

37. Perioperative hypothermia increases cardiac event rate.
Is this due to increased AIx with hypothermia?

38. Could AIx guide therapies in anesthesia and intensive care?
NTG in low doses may work by decreasing wave reflection, CBP and afterload.
First trial of AIx guided treatment would seem to be afterload reduction for the depressed LV– as in coming off CPB.
SphygmoCor Mx does analysis on arterial line tracing, so it is continuous and hands-free.

39. Is this an area which deserves more attention in Critical Care Medicine?

40. The End