[Ejection as index of left ventricle function]

Quantative left ventricular cineangiography performed 1 year post operatively in 24 patients with prosthetic aortic valves demonstrated significant reductions in the end diastolic volume and myocardial mass. Cardiac work was only slightly reduced. When cardiac work was compared to the end diastolic volume or myocardial mass results suggestive of myocardial hypercontractility were obtained. However when cardiac work was normalised simultaneously with the end diastolic volume and myocardial mass, the index so obtained was lowered pre operatively but did not differ significantly from normal values after operation. This index with seems to reflect the clinical evolution appears to be of greater value than the other indices used for determining left ventricular function. The reducted function of the hypertrophied myocardium was shown to be reversible during the 1 year post operative period.