[Value of mechanocardiographic parameters in comparison to radiocardiography in cardiologic diagnosis and therapy control]

Two noninvasive methods for diagnosing cardiac function, the determination of systolic time intervals (STI) and radiocardiography-cyclography (RCG), were investigated in parallel on two study groups - patients with healthy heart and patients with myocardial insufficiency - before and after glycoside treatment with regard to their diagnostic validity by inter- and intraindividual comparison. The STI in patients with myocardial insufficiency clearly deviated from the values found in normals, but reached, however, the limit of significance only for the equalized pre-ejection period (PEP) and the quotient according to Weissler (PEP/LVET). A reliable quantitative conclusion about cardiac function by interindividual comparison with the help of STI, therefore, does not seem possible. The intraindividual comparison (before and during glycoside treatment) reveals statistically significant alterations in STI. In patients with myocardial insufficiency, the radiocardiographic findings in part exhibit considerable deviations from the expected values and those of other authors. Methodological and pathophysiological causes of these deviations are discussed. Taking into consideration methodological factors of influence (body position etc.), RCG yields quantitatively significant conclusions about the functional condition of the normal and insufficient heart and is, therefore, in its diagnostic valency superior to the determination of STI.