Circulatory Changes in Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Using the dye dilution technic of Hamilton the cardiac output was measured in 20 patients with acute myocardial infarction. The blood pressure, circulation time, venous pressure, plasma volume, and hematocrit were also determined. Those patients who developed congestive heart failure had a low cardiac output and a prolonged circulation time. These changes were more pronounced in seven patients with sustained shock. One patient who had just recovered from circulatory collapse was found to have a cardiac output of 9.3 liters per minute.