[Pulmonary function in chronic ischemic cardiopathy].

Twenty patients with heart disease were prospectively studied. Seven of them had an old myocardial infarction and thirteen, ischemic symptoms without infarction. Pulmonary function was studied focusing on small airway disease and gas exchange abnormalities. Our results showed that a mild degree of abnormality exists as reflected by bronchial obstruction with origin in small airways, V/Q disturbed and hypoxemia. In 88% these seem to be related to left ventricular disfunction. Twenty four hours after pulmonary function test all patients underwent left heart catheterization with coronarography and ventriculography.