Evaluation of left ventricular function by echocardiography.

Ventricular minor-axis dimensions were measured by echocardiography at end-systole (Ss) and end-diastole (SD)) in five groups of patients: (I) normal; (II) mitral stenosis; (III) compensated volume overload; (IV) idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis; and (V) congestive heart failure. Cardiac pump function was evaluated by determination of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction (EF) from the echographic dimensions using formulae previously reported. The mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (VCF), a parameter of cardiac muscle performance previously obtained only by invasive methods, was determined from the echographic dimensions by the