Further Studies of the Cardiodynamics of Experimental Intraventricular Communications

Abstract

This communication deals with the altered ventricular dynamics occasioned by temporary opening of a large artificial interventricular shunt. Since the left ventricular discharge into the right ventricle begins some time after ejection of blood into the aorta, the left ventricle assists the right in propelling larger quantities of blood through the pulmonary circuit. This late systolic flow through a shunt causes characteristic deformations of central arterial pressure pulses and a midsystolic murmur similar to those observed in several clinical cases.