VENTRICULAR WEIGHT IN CARDIAC HYPERTROPHY

Abstract

A simple separation of the heart into 2 parts; (a) the free wall of right ventricle and (b) the free wall of left ventricle and septum together appears to give as accurate an assessment of the site and degree of ventricular hypertrophy as by more elaborate methods. In hearts with left ventricular hypertrophy the total ventricular wt. is always above normal, and is a measure of the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy present. In hearts with isolated right ventricular hypertrophy, the total ventricular wt. is within normal limits in 50% of the cases, even when congestive failure has been present. Septal hypertrophy is more pronounced in left ventricular hypertrophy than in right.