[Phonomechanography of recent myocardial infarct: the jugulogram and carotidogram].

The mechanographic tracings of 30 patients with recent myocardial infarction, usually uncomplicated and without mitral incompetence, were compared with those of two control groups. The jugular venogram was unhelpful; full measurements can be made in only 40% of cases, and the scatter of normal values is too great. The carotid arteriogram is usually of the "arterial" type. Transmission time and the duration of the rising phase were both shortened. These findings result from the high level of peripheral resistance. The mean left systolic time was, except for qB2, abnormal, and remained so at the end of the first month. In this series there were neither maximal changes in J3, nor significant improvement from J12 nor J30. The largest increases in PPE and PPE/LVET were found in cases with large infarcts, and the largest reduction of LVET was in a case with left ventricular failure. There was no particular peculiarity corresponding with the site of the necrosis. Alteration in the ratio PPE/LVET is often a lasting measure of depressed left ventricular function. It would be most useful to study this ratio in the long term and to use it as a measure of recovery of function and as a guide to advising the patient on his future life style.