EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON CARDIAC OUTPUT AND PULMONARY ARTERIAL PRESSURE IN NORMAL PERSONS AND IN PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND PULMONARY EMPHYSEMA 1

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Abstract
Using the technique of intracardiac catheteriza-tion, detns. of cardiac output by the Fick principle and of mean pulmonary arterial pressure were made at rest and during light exercise in 8 persons with a normal cardiovascular system, 8 cases of congestive heart failure due to systemic hypertension or syphilitic aortic regurgitation, 7 cases of mitral stenosis and 5 cases of pulmonary emphysema. In normal persons during exercise, there is an increase in both cardiac output and arteriovenous oxygen difference, but the increase in cardiac output predominates. In persons with congestive heart failure, there is little or no increase in the cardiac output during exercise, but there is a large increase in arteriovenous oxygen difference. The normal pulmonary vascular bed can accommodate a large increase in the rate of blood flow with little or no increase in mean pulmonary arterial pressure. In left ventricular failure, the mean pulmonary arterial pressure is elevated at rest and shows a large further elevation during exercise, with little or no increase in the cardiac output. In patients with mitral stenosis or advanced pulmonary emphysema, the pulmonary arterial pressure is usually elevated at rest and becomes still further elevated during exercise.