Systolic Time Intervals

Abstract

The diagnosis of tight aortic stenosis is always an important consideration in patients with congestive heart failure of unknown origin. Inasmuch as the typical systolic murmur of aortic stenosis may be soft and difficult to hear under such circumstances, this diagnosis may be missed or, at best, difficult to confirm. We examined phonocardiograms with carotid pulse recordings and measured systolic time intervals in patients with aortic stenosis and congestive heart failure to determine if systolic time intervals were of any help. Left ventricular ejection time (LVET) was prolonged in seven of nine patients. The pre-ejection period (PEP)/LVET ratio in all nine cases was found to be much lower than values reported for congestive heart failure from other causes. It is believed that the PEP/LVET ratio is very helpful in distinguishing congestive heart failure due to aortic stenosis from congestive heart failure caused by other diseases and may be very helpful