[Intracardiac mechanisms of compensation of isolated aortic insufficiency].

A complex angiographic examination was performed in 28 patients with rheumatic aortic valvular disease. The major mechanism of compensation in aortic failure was found to be an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume at the expense of added regurgitating blood volume. It was shown that isolated aortic failure was a good compensated defect with high functional myocardial reserves and coronary circulation along with adequate left ventricular dilatation and normal-stress nature of left ventricular hypertrophy. Left ventricular dilation at a regurgitation fraction of less than 30% and intramyocardial tension increase were demonstrated to be unfavorable predictive signs and to be indicative of profound myocardial dysfunction.