Use of systolic times and electrocardiography for the evaluation of left ventricle involvement in aortic valve diseases
Gemelli, A.; Camerucci, S.; Di Benedetto, P.; Cardi, L.
Minerva Medica 72(39): 2611-2616
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-4806 PMID: 6457259 Document Number: 178440
75 patients suffering from aortic valvulopathy without signs of left ventricular insufficiency have been examined. Left ventricular function is studied by determining systolic times with polygraphic examination (Q-S2, LVET and PEP). The ECG findings were assessed with a myocardial hypertrophy criterion based on a point-score system. Finally, the time of total carotidogram ascent, the 1/2 T and the distance between Q wave and acme of the systolic murmur (Q-acme) were measured. It is concluded that: 1) The most meaningful increases in LVET are associated with the most evident shortenings in PEP only in the phase of the disease in which left ventricular hypertrophy is at its height. 2) The delay in systolic wave ascent should be considered indicative of the functional haemodynamic importance of aortic stenosis, whereas the earliness or otherwise of systolic murmur acme is an expression of the anatomic extent of the stenosis in question.