In one hundred twenty-seven patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases (chronic pulmonary emphysema 34 cases, bronchial asthma 58, and chronic bronchitis 35 cases) were twelve cases chosen who developed heart failure during observation. Values of Spirography, measurements of arterial gases and pH, and E. C. G. findings of them were compared before and after the episode.
1) The appearence of heart failure depended upon respiratory functions, especially upon changes in blood gases affected by the disturbance of gas exchange.
Arterial oxygen tensions measured were below 70mmHg in all the twelve cases and in sixty-seven per cent of them were below 50mmHg. Arterial carbon dioxide tensions were over 60mmHg in thirty-three per cent of the twelve and in eleven of them were over 50mmHg. They tended to return to normal values as symptomes disappeared.
2) In thirty-eight patients were abnormal E. C. G. observed and ST-T changes were seen in seventy-four per cent of them. These findings were thought as the relative coronary insufficiency caused by the disorder of oxygen demand and supply of the heart due to hypoxemia.
In order to clarify this cause were succeeded following experiments using adult healthy dogs confined within body respirator. Under the condition of controlled respiration dogs breathed 7% oxygen mixed gas, and coronary blood flow was observed after the hyper-ventilation was eliminated.
Results were as follows, that the measured coronary blood flow was far below the ones calculated from parameters of Rein and Balke under 70% arterial oxygen saturation, and E. C. G. showed ST depression and/or arrhythmia.
3) Normal men were confined within the hypobaric pressure chamber from 3 to 6 hours.
Activities of intelligence were disturbed as arterial oxygen tensions were below 59mmHg, and near 40mmHg, the sense of differentiation was disturbed, slow waves appeared in E. E. G. and cheyne-stokes respiration was seen. Findings of coronary insufficiency and arrhythmia in E. C. G. were observed as arterial oxygen tensions were below 40mmHg.
4) T-flattnesses and ST-depressions in E. C. G. were often observed in patients with chronic lung diseases as arterial oxygen tensions were below 70mmHg.
In some cases these findings were seen on exercise test only. These cases were considered as the latent failure of cardiac functions. These abnormal E. C. G. findings with right axis deviations and the right ventricular hypertrophy were often seen under 55mmHg of Pao
2. Most cases showed improvement as hypoxemia diminished.
5) It should always be noted that hypercapnia was preceded by hypoxemia. Therefore, patients with long continuing hypercapnia had been affected by pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy and disturbed cardiac function due to hypoxemia. On the other hand, it should be considered that hypercapnia itself affected metabolism of the heart and decreased sensitibity of the cardio-vascular center.
Symptomes of cardiac failure were discussed as they shortened prognosis of chronic lung diseases.
In many cases the symptomes diminished by treatment, but a few cases died of heart failure.
In some cases of chronic lung diseases values of blood gases worsened against various treatments. These cases were thought that their peripheral alveolo-bronchiolar systems were in process of destruction, therefore even hyper-ventilation could not improve the disturbed blood gases and chronic hypoxemia continued.
Moreover on acute cardio-pulmonary risks, controlls of the ventilation and the circulation were limited and many functions of important organs were impaired, then the patient would result in death. But, if infections would be protected, sputum expectorated, and airway spasm diminished, signs of cardiac failure and pulmonary encephalopathia would not appear, and the prognosis could be prolonged.
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