Porcine Model for Validation of Noninvasive Estimation of Pulmonary Hypertension

The diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is often delayed in the course of the disease, contributing to its high mortality rate. Seismocardiography (SCG) is non-invasive and less time-consuming and could potentially replace echocardiography for early detection of PH. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of SCG in detecting PH by comparing cardiac events in pigs with PH and pigs with normal pulmonary circulation. ECG and SCG data were collected from 10 pigs undergoing right heart catheterization. PH was induced with hypoxemia or hypercapnia. The SCG signals showed, in hypoxemia, a significant prolongation (in % relative to the RR-interval) in isovolumetric contraction time (IVCT) from 4.48% (± 1.36) to 5.58% (± 1.88) (p = 0.01), and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) from 7.33% (± 1.72) to 9.64% (± 3.84) (p =0.00). In hypercapnia, left ventricular ejection time (LVET) significantly increased from 34.6% (± 6.0) to 41.0% (± 10.8) (p =0.03), IVRT increased from 7.33% (± 1.73) to 11.9% (± 5.1) (p =0.00) and IVCT increased from 4.18% (± 1.07) to 6.61% (± 2.11) (p = 0.00). This study found an increase in the SCG time intervals for IVCT and IVRT in pigs with induced PH. Thereby, indicating a potential value of capturing PH in humans utilizing SCG.