Analysis of the arterial blood pressure waveform using Fast Fourier Transform technique during left ventricular nonpulsatile assistance: in vitro study

The arterial blood pressure waveform is variable during left ventricular assistance. The aim of this study is to examine the correlation between the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) condition and the arterial blood pressure waveform in a fixed cardiac output condition using a mock circuit. This mock circulation loop was composed of an aortic compliance chamber, a left atrial compliance chamber, a pneumatic pulsatile pump as a native heart, and a rotary blood pump representing the LVAD with left atrial drainage. The Fast Fourier Transform technique was utilized to analyze the arterial blood pressure waveform and calculate the pulsatility index (PI) and the pulse power index (PPI). The PI and PPI decreased with the increase of the LVAD rotational speed, exponentially. There was a significant negative correlation between the PI, PPI, and the LVAD rotational speed, flow rate, and assist ratio. The best correlation was observed between the PPI and the assist ratio (r = 0.986). From this viewpoint, an ideal LVAD condition may be estimated from the pulsatility change of the arterial blood pressure waveform.