The ischemic segment and left ventricular function during exercise angina

Improvement of the quality of transpulmonary left ventriculograms by exercise was demonstrated in 5 patients in a pre‐study. In the main study transpulmonary left ventriculography was performed in 10 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) at rest and during exercise, producing maximum angina pectoris (AP). Left ventricular pressure was recorded simultaneously. The extent of CAD, demonstrated in all patients by coronary angiography, was quantitated by a score. In the exercise ventriculograms, local wall motion was quantitated by 14 hemiaxes. During exercise AP, all patients developed wall motion abnormalities not present at rest. There was a significant linear correlation between coronary score and number of abmormally shortening hemiaxes (< 30% shortening) during exercise‐AP (y = 0.16 × + 4.34; r = 0.933). The number of anormal hemiaxes correlated significantly (p < 0.05) with left ventricular enddiastolic pressure (LVEDP), dp/dt min, endsystolic volume index, enddiastolic volume index, ejection fraction, stroke work index, minute work, compliance SV/ Δ PD/ESV, and cardiac index. During exercise AP the extent of ischemic wall motion abnormalities is determined by localization and severity of coronary artery lesions. The extent of ischemic impairment of wall motion determines the severity of impairment of left ventricular pump function, filling pressure, and maximum speed of relaxation. Transpulmonary left ventriculography during exercise AP is a safe and relatively simple method to quantitate the extent of ischemic wall motion abnormalities. It could be useful in the selection of patients for coronary artery surgery and in the assessment of the results of this operation.