Direct arterial pressure, pulse rate, and electrocardiogram during micturition and defecation in unrestricted man

Abstract

Eleven unrestricted patients clearly indicated episodes of micturition and defecation during a 24-hour period when their arterial pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram were recorded continuously. During excretory events in both males and females, the predominant cardiovascular change was a Valsalva maneuver, which in some instances was repeated several times. There was no significant change in the level of arterial pressure following micturition as compared with the level beforehand. These cardiovascular changes were uninfluenced by the presence of essential hypertension or ischemic heart disease, but were modified in some instances by drugs which affected the autonomic nervous system.