Hemodynamic Determinants of Oxygen Consumption of the Heart With Special Reference to the Tension-Time Index

The hemodynamic determinants of myocardial oxygen utilization were ascertained in the isolated, metabolically supported, nonfailing canine heart. The primary determinant was found to be the total tension developed by the myocardium as indicated by the area beneath the systolic pressure curve (Tension-Time Index). The significance of these findings for the understanding of the low efficiency of the failing heart and the consequently increased importance of Laplace's law are discussed.