[The function of the heart ventricles in patients with a lesion of the aortic arch branches]

Radionuclide equilibrium ventriculography was used to examine general and regional ejection fractions and velocity characteristics for both cardiac ventricles in 28 patients with occlusions of the aortic arch branches consequent to aortic arteritis of atherosclerosis. In nonspecific aortic arteritis (NAA) even young patients have myocardial dysfunction comparable to that in the elderly with atherosclerosis. However, as shown by the nitroglycerin test, these patients preserve functional reserves of the myocardium. Right ventricular hyperfunction observed in NAA patients may result from increased postload due to possible hypertension. The above myocardial shifts should be considered when deciding on reconstructive surgery on the aortic arch branches.