COMPUTER ANALYSIS OF THE RELATION BETWEEN EJECTION FRACTION AND VENTRICULAR VOLUME, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE ROLE OF END-SYSTOLIC VOLUME.

Cardiac dimensions and elastance properties were analyzed and their interrelationships described using the linear regression method. Computer processing of data obtained from some 2000 patients revealed that ejection fraction and end-systolic volume are highly linearly related for innervated hearts, independent of hemodynamic interventions. Dedicated software was developed to predict the possible physiologic implications of this finding. The investigations emphasize that, in contrast to the ejection fraction index, the end-systolic volume represents a key parameter in the assessment of ventricular function, regardless of the level of activity of the adrenergic nervous system input to the heart.