THE VENTRICULAR SEPTUM AS A COMPONENT OF THE HEART AND ITS ROLE IN CARDIAC PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Ratios of weight and surface area of various parts of the heart to the heart and body were determined in 18 controls. In other 52 dogs the interventricular septum was operatively replaced with 1/8 inch thick Teflon felt, and cardiac performance was studied in dogs which survived for more than 30 days. It was estimated that in the long-term survivors the resected septum was 28.3 to 44.3% of the septum in weight, dependent upon definition of the septum. In surface area it was 63% of the right ventricular side of the septum and 55% of the left. To the left ventricule the septum replaced was 12.3% in weight and 15.6% in surface area. Cardiac performance of these heart was close to normal with the competent mitral valve and was impaired in presence of mitral insufficiency. It was also suggested that paradoxical movement of the septum had special meaning in term of compromising the normal volume ratio of the ventricles, compared with that of the free ventricular wall and that the septum had a role for the normal function of the mitral valve.