THE DURATION OF LEFT VENTRICULAR SYSTOLE IN MITRAL INCOMPETENCE

Abstract
The duration of left ventricular systole and of left ventricular ejection was in the upper range of normal values or abnormally prolonged in 6 cases of severe mitral incompetence with atrial fibrillation. Prolongation of systole is attributed to increased left ventricular end-diastolic myocardial fiber length, the evidence for the presence of this being elevation of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.