Mechanical Aspects of Cardiac Performance

Monitoring of hemodynamic and mechanical parameters of the heart are reviewed. Clinical methodologies are discussed along with tools used in a research setting. Specifically, these include: arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, mixed venous oxygen saturation, cardiac output, pressure–volume loops, flow monitoring, and Frank–Starling curves. These parameters are monitored using technology such as pressure transducers, Swan–Ganz catheters, thermodilution, sonomicrometry crystals, conductance catheters, ultrasound transducers, and loop recorders.