Assessment of the hemodynamics of left ventricle in ventricular aneurysm during the contraction phase by vector flow mapping

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the systolic function of left ventricle in myocardial infarction(MI)patients with ventricular aneurysm and the changing law of blood flow in ventricle with regional abnormality of wall movement by vector flow mapping (VFM).Methods Tirty-one MI patients with ventricular aneurysm and 35 healthy participants were enrolled in this study.The characteristic of vector and streamline,and the changing of the velocity gradient in left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT), and the average flow quantity through aneurysm neck were detected in the isovolumic contraction period, the rapid ejection period and the slow ejection period by VFM.Results The distinction between aneurysm and control group was mainly the persistance of vortex in aneurysm.The size of vortex in aneurysm was highly correlated with that measured by 2-D ultrasound(P ＜0.01).The percentage of vortex duration to cardiac cycle in patients group was significantly greater than that in control group(P ＜0.01).In the early systolic contraction the velocity gradient in LVOT in patients with ventricular aneurysm was smaller than that of control group(P ＜0.05).The average flow through aneurysm neck was notablely decreased compared with control group(P ＜0.01).Conclusions VFM can reveal the hemodynamics of left ventricle with aneurysm directly as well as quantitively measure the regional velocity and flow quantity.VFM can evaluate the systolic function of left ventricle exactly. Key words: Echocardiography ; Myocardial infarction; Heart aneurysm; Hemodynamic phenomena