Left Ventricular Function in Cor Pulmonale

Twelve patients with severe chronic obstructive lung disease have been studied by catheterization of both sides of the heart. Elevation of the end-diastolic pressure in the left ventricle has not been observed in any of these cases, even in the presence of systemic venons hypertension. A right-to-left shunt was present at the atrial level in one patient The concept of left ventricular dysfunction in cor pulmonale has been critically reviewed. We have found no evidence to support it.