[The left ventricle in chronic cor plumonale (author's transl)].

The volume of both ventricles was estimated in 25 hearts with chronic cor pulmonale. Also, the weight of the left ventricle, including the whole septum and the free part of the right ventricle, was determined to be 100 g. Distinct hypertrophy of the right ventricular part of the septum could be demonstrated in all cases. A weight increase of the left ventricle, including the whole septum, is frequently caused by the hypertrophic ventricular part of the septum. Th relative weight of the right ventricular portion )calculated according to Muller's method) was subtracted from the weight of the left ventricle plus the whole septum. After this weight correction, a hypertropyh of the left ventricle could only be demonstrated in cases with hypertension or renal arterio= and arteriolosclerosis. In one case of left ventricular hypertrophy, hypertension could not be ruled out. In most of the cases a distinct dilation of the left ventricle could be found. The highest degrees of dilation were found in patients with brohchiectases of the lungs. Our results indicate that the structural dialation of the left ventricle may be due to an increased shunt-volume by bronchopulmonary anastomoses.