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PubMed1993

Differing effects of right ventricular pacing and left bundle branch block on left ventricular function.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the different effects of right ventricular pacing and classic left bundle branch block on left ventricular function. DESIGN: Retrospective and prospective study of 48 patients by electrocardiography, and M mode, cross sectional, and Doppler echocardiography. SETTING: A tertiary cardiac referral centre. PATIENTS: 48 patients (age range 21 to 89 years, 15 women), 24 with a VVI pacemaker implanted and 24 with classic left bundle branch block. Functional mitral regurgitation was present in all those with right ventricular pacing and 22 of those with left bundle branch block. RESULTS: Age, RR interval, and left ventricular size were similar in the two groups, as were conventional measurements of overall systolic function: shortening fraction and pre-ejection and aortic ejection times. In right ventricular pacing, however, QRS duration (p < 0.01) and electromechanical delay were much longer (p < 0.001), whereas the time intervals from onset of mitral regurgitation to aortic opening (contraction time) and from A 2 to the end of mitral regurgitation (relaxation time) were consistently shorter (p < 0.01) than corresponding values in patients with left bundle branch block. Reversed splitting of the second heart sound was much commoner in left bundle branch block (p < 0.02), and only these patients showed an early systolic ventricular septal contraction. Its onset followed the initial deflection of the QRS complex by 40(15) ms and preceded mitral regurgitation by a small but consistent interval of 10 ms (p < 0.01). The onset of posterior wall thickening was synchronous with the onset of mitral regurgitation in right ventricular pacing but much later (p < 0.01) in patients with left bundle branch block. The extent of incoordinate wall motion measure as relative dimension change during pre-ejection and isovolumic relaxation period was much greater (p < 0.01) in left bundle branch block. These major differences were not altered by left ventricular cavity size in either group, nor by the presence of previous left bundle branch block in patients who were subsequently paced. CONCLUSIONS: The left ventricle seems to be activated much more rapidly with right ventricular pacing than with left bundle branch block. This applies even when left bundle branch block is present before pacing. Electromechanical delay, contraction and relaxation times, and extent of incoordinate ventricular wall motion differ strikingly between the two conditions. The use of right ventricular pacing as an experimental model of left bundle branch block in humans must be re-examined.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Acute effects of smoking on left ventricular function and neuro-humoral responses in patients with known or suspected ischaemic heart disease.

Systolic left ventricular function was examined by radionuclide ventriculography in 12 habitual smokers with known or suspected ischaemic heart disease, aged 33-69 years, before, during, and after smoking of two cigarettes in a row and was repeated on a non-smoking control day. Plasma concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, renin, and angiotensin II were determined on the smoking day, before and immediately after smoking. During smoking, there were significant increases in heart rate (+27%), rate-pressure product (+23%), and cardiac output (+14%) in the face of a significant increase in left ventricular end-systolic volume (+5%) and significant decreases in ejection fraction (-6%) and stroke volume (-8%). Blood pressure was virtually unchanged, and total peripheral resistance remained constant. Plasma adrenaline increased by 100%, renin decreased by 21%, and noradrenaline and angiotensin II did not change. The humoral changes were not correlated to changes in any of the haemodynamic variables. Areas of myocardial hypokinesis emerged or widened during smoking in 11 of 12 patients. Thus, in patients with known or suspected ischaemic heart disease, smoking was associated with an acute decrease in systolic ventricular function and development of widespread hypokinesis despite adrenaline stimulation.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Transoesophageal echocardiographic monitoring of left ventricular function.

Technical advances in echocardiography, especially the introduction of oesophageal probes, have led to the extension of its indications to the field of anaesthesia and intensive care. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides high quality imaging of the left ventricle in patients on ventilators. In addition, manipulation of the probe is performed near the patient's head and so does not interfere with the surgeon's job. This enables echocardiographic monitoring of left ventricular function throughout the operation. The information so obtained not only provides data about anatomical changes which is sometimes invaluable, but also allows quantification of left ventricular function which is the main advantage for anaesthetists. The images allow study of regional and global left ventricular contraction and the deduction of certain parameters of ventricular performance. The ability to perform real time monitoring of ventricular function throughout anaesthesia and the immediate postoperative period is all the more valuable in patients with limited cardiac and coronary reserve. This new method of monitoring gives a better understanding of the physiopathology of peroperative cardiac events and provides information which may guide the conduct of the anaesthesia and postoperative care.

Echocardiography↗
PubMed2002

Early recanalization and plasma brain natriuretic peptide as an indicator of left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Although plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels have been widely measured in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), it is still uncertain whether the early recanalization modulates the levels and whether the levels can predict chronic stage left ventricular function. This study was designed to elucidate these issues. METHODS: In 80 consecutive patients with AMI, plasma BNP levels were measured at admission and at 4 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 1 month after admission. RESULTS: In 35 of the 80 patients, the infarct-related artery was patent within 6 hours from the onset of MI (6-hour patency group), and in 27 patients, the artery was still occluded after 6 hours (6-hour occlusion group). The remaining 18 patients in whom it was unclear whether recanalization of the infarct-related artery had occurred within 6 hours or not were excluded from the analyses. In the 6-hour patency group, the BNP level gradually increased and reached a maximum value at 24 hours after admission. In the 6-hour occlusion group, the level increased more, with the values at 4 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours significantly higher than those in the 6-hour patency group (86 +/- 18 pmol/L versus 35 +/- 8 pmol/L; P <.01; 112 +/- 13 pmol/L versus 74 +/- 9 pmol/L; P <.05; 102 +/- 15 pmol/L versus 53 +/- 11 pmol/L; P <.01). Chronic stage left ventricular function was correlated with not only the BNP level at same stage but also that at 24 hours and that at 48 hours after admission. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the BNP level at 24 hours was the most powerful predictor of chronic stage left ventricular function. CONCLUSION: Plasma BNP levels can predict subsequent cardiac function. In addition, the importance of early recanalization may also be supported with BNP kinetics.

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗
PubMed1999

[Effects of coronary artery bypass surgery on the stunned and hibernating myocardium in the cases with depressed left ventricular function].

Chronic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction may result from irreversible damage (cell death), stunned myocardium (ST), or hibernating myocardium (HB). However, both of ST and HB are expected to be reversible. In this report, the effects of coronary artery bypass grafting on the regions of ST and HB were evaluated in 37 patients with less than 40% of LV ejection fraction. The patients were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of the patients whose postoperative LV ejection fraction rose by more than 10% compared to the preoperative value. Group II included the remaining patients with no significant improvement. After successful revascularization, 61% of HB changed to ST and 52% of ST to normal in group I. These changes were significant in comparison with group II because 48% of HB and 83% of ST in group II remained unchanged. Immediate or rapid recovery of HB hardly occurred in both of the groups. To recover normal function, HB may pass through a stage of ST on reperfusion. On the other hand, it is difficult to determine whether HB and ST with no significant changes after reperfusion are irreversibly damaged or reversible and take time to return to normal.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Long-term effect of mexiletine on left ventricular function and relation to suppression of ventricular arrhythmia.

The effects of oral mexiletine on left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) and ventricular arrhythmias--and a possible relation between these effects--were evaluated during 3 months of therapy in 29 patients with chronic ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) and a moderately reduced to normal LVEF by 24-hour Holter monitoring and by radionuclide ventriculography at rest and during maximum tolerable exercise testing. After an average titration period of 13 days, a mean daily mexiletine dose of 739 mg was maintained throughout the treatment. At the end of titration and after 3 months of treatment, patients with a baseline LVEF less than or equal to 40% (group 2) responded with a median reduction of the hourly VPC rate by 90 and 81%, respectively, compared with 79 and 72% in those with a baseline LVEF greater than 40% (group 1). Couplets and runs of ventricular tachycardia were almost completely suppressed in nearly all patients. A single patient had a proarrhythmic increase in VPCs during treatment. Compared with baseline, there were no significant changes in resting or exercise LVEF after 1 or 3 months of treatment in either of the 2 groups of patients. No correlation was found between treatment-induced changes in arrhythmia frequency and in resting EF. No symptoms of congestive heart failure developed. The study confirms that long-term use of mexiletine is efficacious and relatively free of cardiac depressant effects even in patients with diminished LV function.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Acute effects of nifedipine on systolic and diastolic ventricular function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

To evaluate how nifedipine influences systolic and diastolic ventricular function, the effects of 20 mg sublingual nifedipine were studied in 13 stable COPD patients. Nifedipine induced no change in mean pulmonary arterial pressure, decreased mean arterial pressure, pulmonary and systemic vascular resistance index, and increased heart rate and cardiac index. It also caused an increase in right and left ventricular ejection fractions. The end-diastolic volume index of both ventricles remained unchanged, whereas the end-systolic volume index tended to decrease without reaching a significant level, and the right ventricular contractility increased. After nifedipine administration, right and left ventricular compliance increased. This study suggests that short-term administration of nifedipine improves the systolic function by a decrease in ventricular afterload and an increase in ventricular contractility and increases the ventricular compliance by a reflex sympathetic stimulation and an afterload reduction.

Administration, Sublingual↗
PubMed1997

[Effect of wind tunnel noise on left ventricular function of heart].

A two-dimensional color doppler ultrasonic imaging instrument was used to detect the left ventricular function in 36 wind tunnel technicians before and after their work in the wind tunnel. The results showed that under the noise between 91.5 and 101.5 dB(A) inside the wind tunnel SV, EF, Fs, MVCF, PE, SE and EAC decreased while SA, PA/PE increased. It indicates that high level wind tunnel noise has certain harmful effect on the left ventricular function of wind tunnel technicians.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed1995

[The short- and medium-term ambulatory radionuclide study of left ventricular function (VEST) after aortocoronary bypass].

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the variation in left ventricular function at 15 and 120 days after bypass surgery. Ten male patients (mean age 59.6 +/- 7 years) with previous myocardial infarction and coronary stenosis of at least two main vessels, underwent a radionuclide ambulatory monitoring of left ventricular function (VEST) during: handgrip test, mental stress test, walking, climbing stairs. These tests were carried out 8 +/- 2 days before (T0), 15 +/- 3 days (T1) and 120 +/- 11 days after coronary bypass; heart rate (HR), ejection fraction (EF), stroke volume (SV), and cardiac output (CO) were evaluated beat by beat before and during the test until the maximal HR was reached. Handgrip and mental stress tests did not induce significant variations in cardiac indices both before and after cardiac surgery. No variation in HR was observed before and after the test. During walking, at T0, HR increased from rest to maximal effort (p < 0.01) with a significant decrease in EF (p < 0.05); at T1 HR, EF, SV and CO increased with respect to rest (p < 0.01); AT T2 HR, EF (p < 0.05) and CO (p < 0.01) increased with respect to rest. Climbing stairs, at T0, HR increased (p < 0.01) and EF decreased (p < 0.05); at T1 HR, EF, CO (p < 0.05) and SV (p < 0.01) increased with respect to rest. At T2 an increase in HR (p < 0.01) and CO (p < 0.05) was observed at maximal effort with respect to rest. The statistical analysis on the percentage variations between baseline and maximal effort (climbing stairs) showed a significant increase in SV at T2 compared to T0 (p < 0.01). In conclusion, VEST during daily normal activities 15 days and 4 months after bypass surgery showed a significant increase in cardiac function indices. The best results obtained at T1 can be explained with the transient increase in adrenergic tone at the time of early postoperative period.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Protection of the neonatal myocardium during hypothermic ischemia. Effect of cardioplegia on left ventricular function in the rabbit.

The protective effect of cardioplegia upon neonatal myocardium during ischemia has not been clearly established. This study evaluated the effects of cardioplegia on left ventricular function in isolated working neonatal rabbit hearts (aged 1 week) subjected to 120 minutes of global ischemia at 28 degrees C. Four groups were studied: Group 1, hypothermia alone; Group 2, intermittent washout with an oxygenated noncardioplegic solution; Group 3, multidose cardioplegia; Group 4, single-dose cardioplegia. After ischemia, cardiac output was reduced to 72% +/- 5% (mean +/- standard error of the mean) of control (p less than 0.02) in Group 1 and to 56% +/- 4% in Group 2 (p less than 0.001). In contrast, there was no significant reduction from baseline cardiac output in those animals receiving cardioplegic solution (Group 3, 93% +/- 6%, and Group 4, 97% +/- 4%). Group 2 hearts demonstrated significantly worse recovery of cardiac output and stroke volume than all other groups. After ischemia, the first derivative of left ventricular pressure fell to 73% +/- 13% of control in Group 1 (p less than 0.1) and to 89% +/- 5% in Group 2 (p less than 0.05). However, the first derivative of left ventricular pressure was restored to control values in Group 3 (118% +/- 11%) and Group 4 (114% +/- 9%). When compared to baseline, creatine kinase was higher 30 minutes after reperfusion in Group 1 (40 +/- 8 versus 143 +/- 32 IU/L/gm, p less than 0.05) and in Group 2 (39 +/- 7 versus 163 +/- 33 IU/L/gm, p less than 0.05). Creatine kinase remained unchanged from baseline in Groups 3 and 4. This study demonstrates excellent preservation of left ventricular function in the neonatal rabbit heart protected with cardioplegic solution. In contrast, neither hypothermia alone nor intermittent washout with an oxygenated noncardioplegic solution was effective in preventing myocardial dysfunction. As in adults, the administration of cardioplegic solution preserves ventricular function during ischemia in neonatal hearts.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Cardiac endothelin release and infarct size, myocardial blood flow, and ventricular function in canine infarction and reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: The potent vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 (ET) may play an important pathophysiologic role in acute myocardial infarction, but its precise effects are incompletely understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the interrelationships between cardiac ET-1 release and infarct size, myocardial blood flow, and ventricular function. METHODS: Fifteen closed chest dogs underwent 3 hours of coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. Coronary sinus and aortic ET-1 levels during occlusion and after reperfusion were determined by radioimmunoassay. Left ventricular function and regional myocardial blood flow were measured by echocardiography and colored microspheres, respectively. Myocardial infarct size was determined by postmortem staining with blue dye and triphenyl tetrazolium chloride. RESULTS: Coronary occlusion and reperfusion produced significant elevations of coronary sinus ET-1 (p < 0.05) and cardiac ET-1 release (p < 0.05), and a trend toward an increase in aortic ET-1 (p = 0.08). A trend toward more ET-1 release was observed in dogs with larger infarcts (p = 0.06), and in dogs with substantial no-reflow in the reperfused territory (p = 0.05). Endothelin-1 release also was associated with increased contractility in nonischemic myocardial segments (p = 0.002), and ET-1 correlated with increased global left ventricular function (p < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In this canine model of coronary occlusion and reperfusion, greater increases in cardiac ET-1 release were observed in dogs with larger infarcts, and increased ET-1 release was associated with the no-reflow phenomenon in the reperfused territory. These data suggest that ET-1 release may have adverse consequences in acute myocardial infarction, including a reduction of myocardial blood flow in the reperfused zone after reperfusion and increased contractility in nonischemic myocardium.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Usefulness of quantitative echocardiographic techniques to predict recovery of regional and global left ventricular function after acute myocardial infarction.

The left ventricular response to dobutamine may be quantified using tissue Doppler measurement of myocardial velocity or displacement or 3-dimensional echocardiography to measure ventricular volume and ejection fraction. This study sought to explore the accuracy of these methods for predicting segmental and global responses to therapy. Standard dobutamine and 3-dimensional echocardiography were performed in 92 consecutive patients with abnormal left ventricular function at rest. Recovery of function was defined by comparison with follow-up echocardiography at rest 5 months later. Segments that showed improved regional function at follow-up showed a higher increment in peak tissue Doppler velocity with dobutamine therapy than in nonviable segments (1.2 +/- 0.4 vs 0.3 +/- 0.2 cm/s, p = 0.001). Similarly, patients who showed a >5% improvement of ejection fraction at follow-up showed a greater displacement response to dobutamine (6.9 +/- 3.2 vs 2.1 +/- 2.3 mm, p = 0.001), as well as a higher rate of ejection fraction response to dobutamine (9 +/- 3% vs 2 +/- 2%, p = 0.001). The optimal cutoff values for predicting subsequent recovery of function at rest were an increment of peak velocity >1 cm/s, >5 mm of displacement, and a >5% improvement of ejection fraction with low-dose dobutamine.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Left ventricular function and compliance in pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum.

Left ventricular systolic function and compliance were assessed in 15 cases of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. The left ventricular ejection fraction measured from cineangiography was used for the evaluation of the systolic function. The end-diastolic pressure (EDP), left ventricular compliance index at end-diastole (dv/dp), and left ventricular stiffness constant K were used as compliance indices. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was slightly diminished. The right ventricular end diastolic pressures (RVEDPs) correlated significantly (r = 0.90) with the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP). On the basis of left ventricular compliance, two distinctive groups of patients could be identified: Group I consisted of Patients 1 to 7, all with impaired left ventricular compliance. A shunt operation was the basic palliation in this group. None of these patients survived infancy. Group II consisted of Patients 8 to 15, all with normal left ventricular compliance. Pulmonary valvotomy as well as aortopulmonary shunts were the basic palliative procedures in this group. Six of eight patients in this group are long-term survivors. No difference was found in right ventricular size, tricuspid valve size, presence of tricuspid insufficiency, presence of a patent ductus arteriosus, postoperative oxygen saturations, and atrial pressure gradients between the two groups. Evaluation of the left ventricular compliance in patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum might be of significant prognostic valve for their early survival.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMed2006

Do calcium sensitizers affect right ventricular functions in patients with chronic heart failure?

Calcium sensitizers also improve cardiac function by increasing the contraction of the myocardium without significantly increasing intracellular calcium levels. Although right ventricular function is an important role for better cardiac global function, there is no study about effects of levosimendan on right ventricular function measured by tissue Doppler imaging. The aim of the present study was to evaluate changes of myocardial properties in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy using tissue Doppler imaging after levosimendan infusion. This tissue Doppler study shows that levosimendan also affects myocardial especially systolic waves of right ventricle and those of left ventricle.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Effect of interconnecting collagen fibres on left ventricular function and intramyocardial compression.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to study the effects of the collagen mesh that interconnects the myocardial fibres on left ventricular mechanics and intramyocardial pressure. METHODS: An earlier model which integrates a symmetrical left ventricular geometry and transmural muscle fibre structure with muscle fibre mechanics was expanded to include radial stiffness generated by dynamically stretched radial collagen fibres. The calculated end systolic pressure-volume relationship (ESPVR) was compared to left ventricular pressure and volume data from six open chest dogs, obtained over a wide load range. Midwall intramyocardial pressure measurements by flat intramyocardial transducer in six different dogs were also used. RESULTS: Consistent with the experiments, inclusion of radial stiffness yielded an ESPVR that was more curvilinear than the collagen-free model, and modified global left ventricular function in that the end systolic volume increased. A diastolic suction effect, manifested by a negative pressure with a steep diastolic pressure-volume relationship at low end systolic volumes, was predicted. The intramyocardial pressure was higher than the left ventricular pressure at the end of isovolumetric relaxation, when radial stretch is maximal and fibre stresses are relaxed. This is attributed to the radial fibre stress component. Intramyocardial pressure was only weakly dependent on left ventricular cavity pressure under wide load manipulations at constant contractility. The experiments also confirmed model predictions that (1) peak intramyocardial pressure is insensitive to load, (2) intramyocardial pressure is markedly higher than left ventricular pressure at the end of isovolumetric relaxation, and (3) intramyocardial pressure continues to rise during ejection towards a maximum value near end ejection. CONCLUSIONS: The transverse radial stiffness due to radial collagen interconnections between myocardial fibrils affects the global systolic left ventricular function, the diastolic suction effect, and the mechanism of systolic coronary compression.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Quantitative regional curvature analysis: an application of shape determination for the assessment of segmental left ventricular function in man.

All traditional techniques of regional ventricular function analysis depend upon one or more assumptions about coordinate, reference, or indexing systems, idealized ventricular geometry, and the uniformity of ventricular contraction. Therefore, a method of shape analysis was developed that allows the quantitation of regional curvature and is independent of the assumptions outlined. This was implemented on a commercial image processing unit and applied to silhouettes of 30-degree right anterior oblique left ventriculograms. Three groups with abnormal wall motion (anterior abnormality, n = 23; inferior abnormality, n = 23; anterior and inferior abnormalities, n = 22) were analyzed and compared to a group with normal regional function (n = 22). Relatively few significant quantitative curvature differences were noted at end diastole among the groups. These few abnormalities described a slight increase in curvature or globularity of the anterior and inferior walls. More marked and extensive aberrations were detected at end systole. The group with anterior wall motion disturbances showed four distinct areas of curvature abnormality. Excessive curvature was present on either side of the apex (anterior and inferoapical regions) and apical curvature was less than normal. The fourth region was in the inferior zone, which showed curvature values that were less than normal, suggesting increased inward motion contralateral to the anterior abnormality. The group with inferior wall motion abnormalities also showed excessive end-systolic curvature on either side of the apex (diaphragmatic and anteroapical zones) and deficient curvature at the apex. A combination of these regional morphologic abnormalities was noted in the group with both anterior and inferior dysfunction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗
PubMed1989

Effect of nifedipine on left ventricular function during exercise in patients with stable effort angina. Relation of its efficacy to the severity of coronary artery disease.

To evaluate whether the effect of nifedipine on left ventricular function relates to the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) or not, supine graded ergometer exercise testing was performed before and after sublingual administration of 10 mg nifedipine in 24 patients with stable effort angina. To minimize the effect of nifedipine on myocardial oxygen consumption, exercise before and after nifedipine was discontinued at the same target rate pressure product. Percent (%) left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) [EF during exercise/EF at rest.100] was measured before and after nifedipine by radionuclide angiocardiography. The angiographic degree of CAD was defined by Gensini's CAD scoring as follows: severe CAD: greater than or equal to 50, moderate: less than 50 greater than 20 and mild: less than or equal to 20. After nifedipine, left ventricular function (%EF) was improved in all 6 patients with mild CAD, but was worsened in all 9 patients with severe CAD. Maximal ST segment depression during exercise was improved in 5 of 6 patients with mild CAD, while improvement was induced in 5 of 9 patients with moderate CAD and in 3 of 9 patients with severe CAD. Jeopardy of coronary collateral vessels may have an influence on the effect of nifedipine. It is suggested that the effect of nifedipine on left ventricular function is influenced by the severity of CAD when most of its effect on myocardial oxygen consumption is eliminated.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Correlation between Selvester's QRS score and left ventricular function at rest and during effort in patients who survived myocardial infarction].

This study was carried out in order to determine if there is any correlation between QRS score and left ventricular function at rest and during exercise after single myocardial infarction. Selvester's QRS scoring system to determine infarct size by observing Q and R standard 12-lead ECG was independently applied by three cardiologists. Left ventricular function was determined using the resting angiographic LVEF, the pulmonary wedge pressure in supine position and during exercise. The total work performed and the heart rate and systolic blood pressure percentage increase (delta) were also considered. Forty-eight male pts (mean age 52.3 +/- 8.7) were studied within 2 months after acute myocardial infarction. The site of the myocardial infarction was anterior in 13, inferior in 20, inferior plus posterior in 15. There were poor correlations between QRS score and left ventricular ejection fraction (r = -0.44) and pulmonary wedge pressure in supine position and during exercise, total work performed, delta heart rate and delta systolic blood pressure. There was no significant difference in mean QRS score between pts with abnormal (greater than 12 mmHg) and normal resting pulmonary wedge pressure in supine position (10.8 +/- 8.4 vs 7.3 +/- 5.8) or between pts with abnormal (greater than 20 mmHg) and normal exertional pulmonary wedge pressure (10.5 +/- 8.4 vs 7.4 +/- 5.7). In conclusion, the QRS score, obtained up to 30 days following an acute myocardial infarction, is not useful in determining left ventricular function at rest or during exercise.

Blood Pressure↗