Output details

Effects of assisted and variable mechanical ventilation on cardiorespiratory interactions in anesthetized pigs

Significance of output:

There has been much controversy in the scientific literature regarding the interaction between respiration and heart-rate. This paper uses a combination of challenging experimental procedures and careful data analysis that identifies physiological mechanisms involved. A clear consequence is that heart-rate variability, commonly used in assessing stress-responses, is inappropriate for this purpose when respiration changes, potentially leading to highly misleading estimates of cardio-vascular responses to stress. The study was part of a wide international collaboration involving Brazil and Germany.