[Evaluation of the cardiorespiratory system during rehabilitation of patients after prosthesis of the mitral and annuloplasty of the tricuspid valves].

Twenty-five patients undergoing rehabilitation for 2 to 3 years after surgery were examined. External respiratory parameters were investigated by means of bicycle spiroergometry, and the pump and contractile functions of the heart were assessed using tetrapolar chest rheography. In addition to positive clinical developments and improved functional class, physical working capacity of the patients was found to be increased. External respiratory function was improved accordingly. The efficacy of surgical correction of the defect was evidenced early after surgery by the normalization of minute flow volume and only slightly reduced stroke volume at rest. Hemodynamic support of physical working capacity that increases progressively in the course of rehabilitation is characterized by overstrain of inotropic mechanisms, uneconomically increased minute volume, and insufficiently increased stroke volume, mostly due to the incompetence of the Frank-Starling mechanism associated with tachycardia that is inadequate to the effort.