Systolic functional response of normal older and younger adult left ventricles to dobutamine.

To determine the systolic functional response of the aged left ventricle to catecholamines, 16 healthy, physically active subjects aged 62 to 72 years (group A) and 19 healthy adults aged 18 to 28 years (group B) were evaluated before and during infusion of 8 micrograms/kg/min of dobutamine. Phonocardiograms, electrocardiograms and M-mode echocardiograms were recorded simultaneously with a carotid pulse tracing. End-diastolic dimension and end-systolic pressure remained unchanged in the 2 groups.

[Acute hemodynamic and coronary effects of captopril in chronic cardiac failure].

The acute effects of captopril on haemodynamics, coronary flow and myocardial metabolism were studied in 12 patients with chronic severe cardiac failure (primary cardiomyopathy: 10 cases; ischaemic: 2 cases) in functional Classes III or IV of the NYHA. All patients were male and their average age was 51.3 +/- 14.

[Comparison of quantitative data from two-dimensional echocardiography and anatomical examination in mitral stenosis].

This prospective study was undertaken to assess the results of 2D echocardiography in the assessment of valvular and subvalvular lesions in mitral stenosis. The echocardiographic findings (E) were compared with peroperative and laboratory anatomical examination of the excised valve (A). The following criteria were compared: 1) planimetry of mitral valve surface area, 2) mobility of the anterior leaflet, assessed anatomically by the flexibility of the tissue, and echocardiographically by the amplitude of early diastolic excursion, 3) length of anterior and posterior leaflets, 4) presence of calcification, 5) length of the longest tendinae chordae, measured from the papillary muscle to the insertion of the valve, 6) thickness of the thickest tendinae chordae attached to each leaflet.