Right ventricular volumes in pulmonic valve disease

1. 1. Right ventricular end-diastolic volume and forward stroke volume/end-diastolic volume ratio was measured in 18 patients with pulmonic valve disease, utilizing the thermodilution method and the Fick principle. 2. 2. Individuals with pulmonic stenosis had normal end-diastolic volume (120 ± 28 ml./M.2) and normal forward stroke volume/-end-diastolic volume ratio (0.40 ± 0.06). 3. 3. Pulmonic insufficiency was found to be associated with a significantly (p < 0.05) increased end-diastolic volume (171 ± 49 ml./-M.2) and a low forward stroke volume/end-diastolic volume ratio (0.33 ± 0.10). 4. 4. The increase in end-diastolic volume with pulmonic regurgitation is considerably less than has been observed to occur in aortic insufficiency, and it is suggested that this is a reflection of the low driving force for regurgitation from the pulmonary artery. 5. 5. The findings provide further evidence that pulmonic insufficiency associated with normal pulmonary arterial pressure appears to be a comparatively benign lesion.