[Changes of the volume of body fluids in cardiac insufficiency of patients with congenital heart defects].

Results consequent upon investigations into variations of the water metabolism, central and intracardiac hemodynamics and myocardial contractility in 42 patients with congenital heart defects are reported. It is established that an increase in the content of total water in the body and of the intracellular liquid may be considered to be a significant sign pointing to circulatory insufficiency, even in the absence of any clinical manifestations of this condition.