THE CARDIAC OUTPUT IN PATIENTS WITH ARTERIOVENOUS FISTULAS 1

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Abstract
A study of the cardiac output in 47 patients with arterio-venous fistulas was made by means of the low frequency, critically damped ballistocardiograph before and after operative removal of the fistula. In 22(47%) of the patients there was a change of less than 25% in the cardiac output in the presence of the fistula, when compared with the later normal values obtained for each patient after operative removal of the fistula. This change was not considered a significant one. In 25 (53%) of the patients with the fistula intact there was an elevation of the cardiac output of 25-127% above the postoperative (normal) level. These changes were considered significant. These patients were, in general, the ones with clinical evidence of large fistulas. There was, however, no striking correlation of change in cardiac output with change in cardiac size, blood volume or pulse rate, nor with duration of the fistula.
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