The Dynamics of Both Right and Left Ventricles at Rest and During Exercise in Patients with Heart Failure

Right auricular pressure, pulmonary "capillary" pressure (a measure of left auricular pressure) and cardiac output were measured at rest and during exercise in 14 patients with cardiovascular disease affecting primarily the left ventricle. In five patients these measurements were normal at rest, in nine abnormal. In all physiologic abnormalities developed on exercise in the sequence: increased pulmonary "capillary" pressure, increased right auricular pressure, decreased cardiac output. Definite abnormalities of left ventricular function were demonstrable when right ventricular function was entirely normal. These results are discussed in relation to the clinical status of the patients.