[Central hemodynamic status and left ventricular contractile function in patients with chronic obstructive lung...

Systemic, central and intracardiac hemodynamics and left-ventricular contractility were studied radiocardiographically and radioventriculographically in 22 patients with stable pulmonary hypertension, developing in the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. A tendency to increased circulating blood volume, significantly elevated end diastolic and end systolic indices, reduced total ejection fraction, and a tendency to decreased segmental ejection fractions were demonstrated. A significant reduction of the speed and percentage of left-ventricular myocardial circular fibre contraction is another evidence of incompetent left-ventricular contractility, in addition to the reduced ejection fraction.