Introduction to Cardiac Mechanics The human heart is not just a pump—it’s a powerful biomechanical engine. With each beat, it consumes energy to contract, relax, and move blood throughout the body. This energy isn’t just a number; it reflects how healthy the heart is, how hard it’s working, and whether it’s operating efficiently. But when … Read more
Introduction to Cardiac Mechanics The human heart operates through a sophisticated balance of pressure, volume, and timing. These dynamics ensure efficient blood flow, oxygen delivery, and organ perfusion. Three key elements govern cardiac function: preload, afterload, and contractility. Understanding how these parameters interact is crucial for both diagnosis and therapy in cardiac care. What is … Read more
Understanding the End Systolic Pressure Volume Relationship (ESPVR) The end systolic pressure volume relationship (ESPVR) is a fundamental concept in cardiovascular physiology that defines the relationship between pressure and volume in the heart at the end of systole, or heart contraction. Often hailed as a load-independent measure of myocardial contractility, ESPVR provides clinicians and researchers … Read more
Understanding Preload Recruitable Stroke Work (PRSW) Preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW) is a sophisticated, load-independent measurement used in cardiovascular physiology to assess the contractility of the heart. Unlike traditional methods such as ejection fraction (EF), PRSW gives a more precise and reliable estimation of how efficiently the heart muscle is functioning, especially in critically ill … Read more