Reduction in ventricular endocardial and epicardial potentials during acute increments in left ventricular dimensions.

Unipolar potentials were recorded from the endocardium (Endo-Pot) and the epicardium (Epi-Pot) of the left and right ventricles of anesthetized open-chested dogs during acute changes in left ventricular dimension by blood transfusion. A pair of implanted ultrasonic crystals were used to detail changes in left ventricular (LV) anteroposterior diameter. When the diameter increased by an average of 11 per cent, LV Endo-Pot decreased by 28 per cent and LV Epi-Pot decreased by 15 per cent. Right ventricular Endo-Pot and Epi-Pot concurrently decreased by similar magnitude (-36 per cent). The relationship between potentials and LV diameter showed negative linearity over the ranges examined, and was not influenced by changes in hematocrit. No inverse relation between changes in Endo-Pot and Epi-Pot was observed. It is suggested that potentials when recorded directly from the endocardium or epicardium mainly reflect the electrical activity of the tissues in the immediate vicinity of the electrode. It is postulated that an increase in ventricular volume by producing stretching and thinning of ventricular walls, reduces the effective tissue mass represented in the electrode signal, thereby accounting for a reduction in both endo and epicardial potentials. Although the precise mechanisms of changes in ventricular potentials remains unclear, such changes, nevertheless, may indicate, in clinical circumstances, an acute shift in left ventricular volume.