Some Clinical Applications of Electrokymography

Abstract

Electrokymographic studies in 3 instances of myocardial infarction involving the lower portions of the left ventricle indicated delayed systolic contraction, expansion instead of inward retraction in systole, and paradoxical inward movement of the affected portions during the rapid inflow phase in diastole. Electrokymographic studies in 2 cases with complete heart block indicated simultaneous auricular motion over both atria and increased amplitude of atrial contraction in late systole. The authors demonstrated systolic accentuation of the heart sounds (bruit de cannon) when the interval between auricular and ventricular contractions was slight, and they discuss these in relation to increased tension of the A-V valves, and to the amplitude of ventricular systolic pulsations.