[Left ventricular function in patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis]

A study of 45 patients with chronic obstructive bronchitis by the method of radionuclide ventriculography with 99mTc showed that even the early stages of the disease were characterized by an inhibition of the contractile function of the left cardiac ventricle. With progression of respiratory insufficiency, maintaining of the left cardiac ventricle stroke volume is achieved by increase of the final-diastolic and final-systolic volumes. Appearance of signs of cardiac decompensation is accompanied by a breakdown of this compensatory mechanism accompanied by a reduction of the strike volume and diminished rate of contraction of the circular fibers of the left ventricle myocardium.