We have used a computer-based parameter estimation method to obtain peripheral resistance, total arterial compliance, and characteristic resistance from the measurement of aortic pressure and flow in the open-thorax cat, assuming the three-element windkessel as a model of the systemic arterial tree. The method can be applied on a beat-to-beat basis in the steady state and in transients. We have validated this method by analyzing nonsteady-state data obtained from an electrical analog with fixed values of the resistances and compliance and by showing that the values obtained by this procedure were within 5% of the fixed values of the circuit. Changes in total peripheral resistance and arterial compliance were studied before, during, and after acute heart rate changes in five open-thorax cats with blocked autonomous nervous system. As expected, the peripheral resistance, estimated during the heart rate transient [3.93 +/- 0.94 (SE) kPa X ml-1 X s] was the same as before the transient (3.53 +/- 0.83 kPa X ml-1 X s); total arterial compliances were also identical (0.28 +/- 0.04 vs. 0.27 +/- 0.03 ml/kPa). In six cats without nervous blockade we obtained similar results. Calculation of peripheral resistance during transients from the mean pressure-to-mean flow ratio, i.e., without correction for arterial compliance, suggested changes in resistance values of less than or equal to 57%, which shows that correction is necessary. The findings indicate that peripheral resistance and total arterial compliance can be estimated in vivo on a beat-to-beat basis, even during hemodynamic transients.