Computation of Aortic Pulse Wave Velocity and Aortic Extensibility from Pressure Gradient Measurements

This study is concerned with the computation of aortic pulse wave velocity based on simultaneous recordings of the aortic pressure gradient and first-time derivative of aortic pressure. These variables were recorded by means of a double-lumen catheter introduced in the aorta of four anesthetized closed chest dogs, and connected to critically damped manometer systems. Results of aortic pulse wave velocity were then compared: (i) to the true phase velocity obtained from spectra of apparent phase velocity, and (ii) to the pulse wave velocity computed from the time shift between maximum slopes of the pressure wave. From the aortic valves to 37 cm down the aortic trunk, pulse wave velocity increased from 410–460 cm/s to approximately 600–800 cm/s. Based on the wave propagation equation presented of Bramwell and Hill (Bramwell, J. C, and Hill, A. V. 1922. Proc. R. Soc. 93, 298–306), volumetric extensibility coefficients were computed from pulse wave velocity data. Results indicated that, from the aortic valves to 37 cm down the aorta, the mean volumetric extensibility decreased from 0.43–0.56% ΔV/cm H2O to 0.16–0.25% ΔV/cm H2O (1 cm H2O = 94.1 N/m2).