Ventricular volumes in experimental acute lung disease. A preliminary report.

A study of ventricular volumes, ejection fractions and filling pressures was performed in dogs (Beagles) before and after the induction of a pulmonary insult (thrombin). The results indicate that during failure of the right ventricle the left ventricular filling pressures are increased without an increase in left ventricular enddiastolic volume and ejection fraction is unchanged. The clinical implications of this phenomenon (ventricular interference) are discussed.