[Effect of mitral and aortal regurgitation on the function of the left heart ventricle].

The paper is based on the data obtained through quantitative analysis of left cinoventriculograms and heart chamber catheterization in 136 patients with mitral and aortal regurgitation of the 2nd--4th degree. Left ventricular productivity was assessed on the basis of total stroke performance and capacity. Left ventricular productivity was found to be always increased in both kinds of regurgitation, irrespective of myocardial condition, and to increase further along with the increase in regurgitation volume. These hemodynamic parameters cannot be used for the assessment of myocardial contractility. In acquired valvular defects, myocardial contractility disorders may be diagnosed using the expulsion fraction, mean rate of muscular fibre shortening, relative mean expulsion rate and muscular contractility index as diagnostic parameters. The clinical value of contractility assessment is in that it can distinguish developing left ventricular failure from clinically similar symptom complexes and enables a more objective choice of treatment. Decreased myocardial contractility parameters in mitral and aortal regurgitation provide no counterindication for the correction of the defect.