[Evaluation of myocardial reserve in patients with post-infarction heart aneurysm]

The author examined 22 patients with postinfarction heart aneurysm to evaluate the myocardial reserves of the preserved myocardium with the use of the strophanthine test. The time-course of changes in the central hemodynamics, contractile function and segmental myocardial contractility of the left ventricle was evaluated. It was disclosed that the positive inotropic effect of strophanthine depends on the degree of the atherosclerotic lesions of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the zone of the preserved myocardium. In patients with postinfarction heart aneurysm and multiple demonstrable lesions of the coronary artery, administration of strophanthine brought about the deterioration of myocardial contractility of the left ventricle. No relationship was found between the initial status of the hemodynamics and the inotropic effect of strophanthine.