[Analysis of usefulness for quantitative methods determining segmental mobility in assessing contrast ventriculography of the left ventricle].

The aim of this study was to compare two different quantitative methods used to determine left ventricular regional wall motions. Circumferential and radial methods were used to distinguish between normo- and hypokinesia of the 5 segments proposed by AHA for RAO position. One hundred ventriculograms were analyzed.

The acute response of left ventricular filling dynamics to intravenous verapamil predicts the changes in exercise tolerance after oral verapamil therapy in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

We studied the correlation between changes in left ventricular filling dynamics induced by acute intravenous administration of verapamil and the changes in exercise tolerance induced by oral administration of the agent in 30 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Diastolic cardiac function was measured by means of a nuclear stethoscope before and 10 min after intravenous administration of verapamil, 0.15 mg.

Assessment of the intracardiac left to right shunts with a single scintillation probe.

In order to assess the accuracy of pulmonary time-activity curves obtained at bedside with a single scintillation probe and Technetium-99m-labelled erythrocytes, pulmonary to systemic flow ratio (Qp:Qs) was calculated for radionuclide and hemodynamic investigations in 104 patients with suspected intracardiac left to right shunts. Cardiac catheterization confirmed the presence of shunts in 76 patients. Pulmonary time-activity curve was 100% sensitive, 88% specific, and 96% accurate in detecting the shunt.