Changes in cardiac function during and after pregnancy expressed by systolic time intervals. 1976

B Sorensen, and K Laursen, and J P Rasmussen, and B Suadicani

Hemodynamic changes during the first and third trimester in pregnancy and in the first week of puerperium were evaluated by non-invasive measurements of Systolic Time Intervals (STI) in supine and left lateral position. The Pre-ejection Period (PEP) was found to shorten significantly in pregnancy and the puerperium due to the increased blood volume. The electro-mechanical systole (QS2) and left ventricular ejection time (LVET) were shortened too, while PEP/LVET-ratio was increased in the third trimester due to the mechanical compression of the gravid uterus on the inferior vena cava. A lengthening of QS2 and LVET and a decreased PEP and P/L-ratio were demonstrated in the third trimester in lateral position when the pressure of the enlarged uterus was eliminated. Heart rate (HR) increased in late pregnancy as well as after delivery, while arterial blood pressure (BP) only underwent minor changes. Employment of the STI seems to provide more useful information about the changes cardiac function during gestation than HR and BP does. The measurements of STI can be repeated without any risk or inconvenience to the patients.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009200 Myocardial Contraction Contractile activity of the MYOCARDIUM. Heart Contractility,Inotropism, Cardiac,Cardiac Inotropism,Cardiac Inotropisms,Contractilities, Heart,Contractility, Heart,Contraction, Myocardial,Contractions, Myocardial,Heart Contractilities,Inotropisms, Cardiac,Myocardial Contractions
D011187 Posture The position or physical attitude of the body. Postures
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011261 Pregnancy Trimester, First The beginning third of a human PREGNANCY, from the first day of the last normal menstrual period (MENSTRUATION) through the completion of 14 weeks (98 days) of gestation. Early Placental Phase,Pregnancy, First Trimester,Trimester, First,Early Placental Phases,First Pregnancy Trimester,First Pregnancy Trimesters,First Trimester,First Trimester Pregnancies,First Trimester Pregnancy,First Trimesters,Phase, Early Placental,Phases, Early Placental,Placental Phase, Early,Placental Phases, Early,Pregnancies, First Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, First,Trimesters, First
D011263 Pregnancy Trimester, Third The last third of a human PREGNANCY, from the beginning of the 29th through the 42nd completed week (197 to 294 days) of gestation. Pregnancy, Third Trimester,Trimester, Third,Last Trimester,Last Trimesters,Pregnancies, Third Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, Third,Third Pregnancy Trimester,Third Pregnancy Trimesters,Third Trimester,Third Trimester Pregnancies,Third Trimester Pregnancy,Third Trimesters,Trimester, Last,Trimesters, Last,Trimesters, Third
D001794 Blood Pressure PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS. Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D005260 Female Females
D006339 Heart Rate The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute. Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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