[Method for the quantitative assessment of myocardial overload in cardiac fibrillation].

The dependence of the pulse pressure and cardiac output on the duration of the preceding cardiac cycle (R--R) in cardiac fibrillation was studied. The stress experienced by the myocardium due to deterioration of the pumping activity of the heart in arrhythmia may be calculated quite precisely by the method suggested by the authors. The "coefficient of myocardial overexertion" introduced in the work shows the percentage by which the heart has to increase the number of contractions so as to provide for a stable minute volume in arrhythmia.