Continuous left ventricular ejection fraction monitoring by central aortic pressure waveform analysis

Left ventricular ejection fraction is one of the most significant measures of heart health used in medical practice today. Unfortunately, measuring left ventricular ejection fraction through imaging (e.g. echocardiography), the method used most commonly in clinical practice, requires heavy machinery and a skilled operator. Thus, measurements can only be taken periodically. To combat these disadvantages, we have developed an algorithm that uses central aortic blood pressure waveform analysis to continuously (i.e. automatically) determine left ventricular ejection fraction. To validate this technique, we have used hemodynamic data collected from nine dogs placed under a variety of hemodynamic stresses and instrumented to provide the data necessary for analysis. The results of this data analysis show a strong agreement between the measured left ventricular ejection fraction and that estimated by the algorithm. With additional testing, this algorithm could be used to continuously and automatically measure left ventricular ejection fraction in situations where an aortic catheter is already used. Future efforts to adapt the algorithm to routinely measured peripheral artery pressure waveforms are warranted.