Left ventricular wall movement in heart failure.

Of 34 patients admitted to hospital with left ventricular failure seven died before echocardiograms could be repeated after treatment and in three no echocardiograms could be obtained owing to chronic obstructive lung disease. In the remaining 24 patients echocardiograms were taken soon after admission and compared with echocardiograms taken later, after clinical improvement. The results show that in most patients both anterior and posterior motion of the posterior left ventricular wall increased. The rate of backward diastolic motion was appreciably less before and after treatment of heart failure compared with that in a small group of normal younger healthy men. This technique is a quick and apparently reliable way to assess ventricular function. The rate of diastolic motion is probably a reflection of left ventricular wall compliance.