Evaluation of vortex of left ventricular by noninvasive vector flow mapping with Doppler echocardiography

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the human left ventricular flow field structure by vector flow mapping (VFM),and to seek the formation rules and description parameters of swirl vortex in the human left ventricular.Methods Sixty heathy adults were involved.The velocity distribution images on the section plane of the flow in the left ventricular were obtained bv VFM,and series parameters of vortex including vortex diameter(transverse and vertical diameter),vortex position(transverse and longitudinal position),vortex maximum flow velocity (Vmax)and density number of vortex ring(N)were measured with the software named DSA-RS1.Results A pair of similar vortex showed by VFM in the left ventricle of the heart during the early and late diastole period which were formed by a strong jet flow through the mitral valve were small vortex,and Vmax and N in former were bigger than that in latter(P＜0.05),while a bigger vortex ring continued during the middle diastolic and isovolumic contraction period with a trailing jet in the left ventricle were large whirlpool,and Vmax and N in former were bigger than that in latter(P＜0.05).Conclusions Changes of the intraventricular blood flow field structure can be showed by VFM,and description parameters of vortex concluded from the study can reflect the changes,which can be used as a preliminary quantitative study of the complex flow field structure in heart chamber. Key words: Echocardiography; Ventricular function,left; Hemodynamic phenomena; Vector flow mapping