[Study of the contractile function of the myocardium with the aid of echocardiography]

The problems of studying the contractile function of the myocardium were investigated in patients with acquired heart diseases and varying stages of circulation insufficiency. Echocardiography was used to examine 92 patients, aged 17 to 38 years. The results of the examination permitted to obtain a clear understanding of the degree of changes in the myocardium contractile function. The most valuable parameters of echocardiogrammes which permit to record the early signs of cardiac insufficiency include the myocardium excursions rate, the ejection fraction, the contraction rate of the circular fibers of the myocardium, the percentage of shortening the anterior-posterior dimensions of the left ventricle.