[Changes in indices of heart pump function and myocardial contractility in experimental cardiac tamponade].

Experimental cardiac tamponade was induced in anesthetized dogs by injection of isotonic solution of sodium chloride into the pericardium via a polyethylene catheter which was implanted before. Myocardial contractility was continuously recorded by using analog and digital computers. The pressure rise in the pericardium was accompanied by a significant growth of myocardial contractility indices. However, the increase in myocardial contractility under experimental cardiac tamponade did not make for complete compensation of cardiac pump function failure caused by restriction of the heart blood content on dilatation.