[Initial stage of cardiac insufficiency as a complication of a past myocardial infarct].

An instrumental and roentgenological examination was conducted in 164 patients who had survived myocardial infarction 1 to 10 years before the examination and having been free of any clinically manifest signs of congestive heart failure. The investigation included a study of the inotropic and pump function of the myocardium of the left ventricle, the electric and mechanical activity of the left atrium, the pulmonary haemodynamics under bicycle tests of growing power, and under identical conditions after premedication with cardiac glycosides (0.00036 mg/kg of body weight of Strophanthin K). Proceeding from the study of the readaptation of the circulation system and its transit to the initial stage of cardiac insufficiency the authors developed criteria of the onset of therapy for latent cardiac failure in patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis.