Beschreibung:
<jats:p>
As in normal men, oxygen breathing in patients with left ventricular failure is associated with a further reduction of cardiac index, partially the result of decreased stroke index and partially the result of decreased heart rate. The decrease in heart rate and cardiac index is associated with a decrease in left ventricular work index without impairing the delivery of oxygen to the tissues or the over-all tissue pO
<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>
. In this group of patients, oxygen breathing did not result in a decreased pulmonary vascular resistance.
</jats:p>