Comparison of changes in arterial blood pressure and cardiac output during cardiogenic shock development in a porcine model.

Background: Low systolic blood pressure (SBP) is a key criterion for diagnosing cardiogenic shock (CS) caused by a reduction in stroke volume and cardiac output (CO). The temporal interaction between changes in pressure and flow has not been well described in the development of CS. In a large animal model, we assessed the temporal relationships of SBP, CO, and blood flow in the carotid artery during induction of CS.

Methods: Fifteen adult Danish landrace pigs (median weight 71 kg) underwent CS induction by stepwise injection of polyvinyl alcohol microspheres into the left main coronary artery every 3 min to induce microvascular obstruction. After each injection, CO, SBP, and mixed venous saturation (SvO₂) were recorded simultaneously from a ventricle sheath in the carotid artery and a pulmonary artery catheter in the right internal jugular vein. A Doppler flow probe measured blood flow in the left carotid artery. CS was defined as a ≥ 50% reduction in CO or SvO₂ from baseline, or absolute SvO₂ < 30%.

Results: CS occurred after a mean of 8 (range 5 to 19) boluses of microspheres. SBP declined from 99 (± 15) mmHg to 74 (± 6) mmHg, equal to 74 (± 13)% of the baseline value. CO was reduced to 5.8 (± 0.7) L/min to 2.2 (± 1.3) L/min, equal to 38 (± 23)% and SvO₂ from 63 (± 7)% to 37 (± 7)%, equal to 60 (± 13)% of baseline values. The decrease in CO was due to a reduction to 43 (± 26)% in stroke volume, as heart rate remained unchanged. The carotid artery blood flow was reduced from 285 (± 50) mL/min to 155 (± 56) mL/min, equal to 54% of baseline values. The decline in SvO₂ and CO preceded a reduction in SBP, and after 25% of emboli were given, CO decreased by 24% while SBP was unchanged.

Conclusion: In a porcine model of ischemic myocardial injury, the decrease in blood flow and stroke volume preceded a decline in SBP, suggesting pressure preservation occurs in the presence of hypoperfusion.