Abstract
Left ventricular (LV) end-systolic indices have been rarely investigated fundamentally or clinically in assessing LV function. Diagnostic catheterization and LV angiography were performed in 83 subjects (normal and various heart diseases) and LV end-systolic volume (ESVI) and LV peak systolic pressure/ESVI ratio (LVSP/ESVI) were calculated. These LV end-systolic indices were compared with LV ejection fraction (EF) in assessing LV function and functional capacity. These two indices, especially LVSP/ ESVI, were more useful than EF in detecting diseased hearts, except the pressure-overloaded or hypertrophic hearts, and in evaluating the functional capacity of individual patients. However, some limitations and problems are apparent, first, these indices are influenced by of terload, second, they do not take into account LV wall-thickness or LV mass, and third, we cannot yet directly assess them for LV contractility indices. We conclude that ESVI and LVSP/ESVI are useful indices in assessing LV function, particularly in detecting diseased hearts and in assessing clinical functional capacity and prognosis. These indices could be simply and non-invasively applied using echocardiogram and the blocd pressure cuff.
