Echocardiographic Wall Motion Abnormalities Research Articles

Does hypotension during dobutamine stress echocardiography correlate with anatomic or functional cardiac impairment?

The development of hypotension during various exercise stress tests has been correlated with the presence of multivessel coronary artery disease and impaired left ventricular contractility. Hypotension may also occur during dobutamine stress echocardiography; however, its anatomic and functional significance remains unknown. As part of an ongoing study of restenosis, dobutamine stress echocardiography and diagnostic cardiac catheterization were performed on the same day in 105 outpatients approximately 6 months after percutaneous coronary revascularization (balloon angioplasty or directional coronary atherectomy) to determine the anatomic and functional significance of dobutamine-induced hypotension. Dobutamine was infused in stepwise increments to a maximum rate of 30 μg/kg/min. Hypotension was defined as a reduction in systolic blood pressure of ≥ 15 mm Hg. Anatomic abnormalities were defined by quantitative coronary angiography and functional abnormalities by digitized two-dimensional stress echocardiography. Clinical, angiographic, hemodynamic, and electrocardiographic data underwent multivariable regression analysis to determine their ability to predict independently the development of dobutamine-induced hypotension. Dobutamine-induced hypotension was not associated with the presence or severity of coronary artery disease or with echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities. Univariable predictors of stress-induced hypotension included high baseline systolic blood pressure, advanced age, and high left ventricular ejection fraction. Only a high baseline systolic blood pressure contributed independent predictive information in multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis. Therefore, the development of hypotension during dobutamine stress echocardiography, unlike that during traditional exercise stress tests, is not associated with the presence of significant coronary artery disease or left ventricular dysfunction.

Clinical application of coronary sinus retroperfusion during high risk percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Objectives. This study was designed to determine the efficacy of synchronized coronary sinus retroperfusion of arterial blood in reducing myocardial ischemia associated with the performance of high risk coronary angioplasty.Background. Previous animal and clinical work has demonstrated the efficacy of this technique in supporting ischemic myocardium.Methods. Twenty-one patients were randomized to alternately receive coronary sinus retroperfusion support during either the second or the third coronary angioplasty balloon inflation, after an initial unsupported brief control inflation. Myocardial ischemia was assessed by the extent of echocardiographic left ventricular wall motion abnormality, quantified ST segment deviation and hemodynamic and anginal variables during balloon inflations performed with and without coronary sinus retroperfusion support. Regional wall motion score was defined as hyperkinesia (−1), normokinesia (0), hypokinesia (+1), akinesia (+2) and dyskinesia (+3).Results. A reduction in the echocardiographic left anterior descending regional wall motion score in retroperfusion-supported (1.7 ± 2.1) versus unsupported (2.7 ± 1.6) inflations (p < 0.05) was noted. Twelve-lead electrocardiographic monitoring revealed no additional ST segment deviation during supported (173 ± 95 s) compared with unsupported (129 ± 87 s) angioplasty inflations despite a significantly longer duration of supported inflations (p < 0.004). Mean and peak systolic coronary sinus pressures differed during supported inflations (21 ± 6 and 44 ± 13 mm Hg) versus unsupported inflations (10 ± 4 and 16 ± 5 mm Hg) (p < 0.001). There was no difference in hemodynamic or anginal variables.Conclusions. A reduction in ischemia as defined by wall motion abnormality during retroperfusion-supported compared with unsupported angioplasty balloon inflations was documented. No additional ST segment deviation occurred during retroperfusion-supported compared with unsupported balloon inflations despite a significantly longer duration of supported inflations. No difference in hemodynamic or anginal variables was noted.

Echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities and the signal averaged electrocardiogram in the acute phase of a first myocardial infarction.

We studied the relationship between wall motion abnormalities determined by echocardiography and the signal-averaged electrocardiogram in 82 consecutive patients during the acute phase of a first myocardial infarction. An abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram was defined as the presence of two of the following criteria: a QRS duration > or = 114 ms, a root mean square voltage (RMS) of the last 40 ms < or = 25 microV and an amplitude signal lower than 40 microV lasting > or = 39 ms. The left ventricle was divided into 13 segments and the contraction pattern divided into akinesia alone (including dyskinesia) (group A), hypokinesia alone (group B) and both hypokinesia and akinesia (group C). An abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram was found in 14/82 patients (17%) and was correlated with the persistence of occlusion of the infarct-related vessel (32% vs 9%, P < 0.02). In patients with a patent vessel, the incidence of an abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram was 14% in group A, 9% in group B and 0% in group C (NS). In patients with an occluded vessel an abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram was found in 10% of group A patients, in 36% in group B patients and in 75% of group C patients (P = 0.05). Our study suggests that the presence of hypokinetic areas during the acute phase of a first myocardial infarction and an abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram indicate an occluded infarct-related vessel.

The Effect of Prophylactic Nitroglycerin Infusion on the Incidence of Regional Wall-Motion Abnormalities and ST Segment Changes in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

The effects of nitroglycerin (NTG) on regional wall-motion abnormalities, ST segment changes, and the incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), cardiac failure, and mortality were studied in 30 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass. Patients received continuous infusions of either normal saline or NTG (1 microgram/kg per min [low dose] or 2 micrograms/kg per min [high dose]) beginning at anesthesia and continuing for 4 hours postoperatively. The occurrence of wall-motion abnormalities as detected by transesophageal echocardiography was 38 events in the normal saline group (N = 10). Significantly fewer events (p < 0.05) were recorded in the low dose and high dose NTG groups (20 events and 15 events, respectively) compared to controls. There were no significant differences between the control and NTG groups with regard to the incidence of Holter ST segment events or the incidence of MI, cardiac failure, or cardiac death. NTG reduced the incidence of echocardiographic wall-motion abnormalities in a dose dependent manner while having no significant effect on other parameters examined.

Usefulness of left ventricular size and function in predicting survival in chronic dialysis patients with diabetes mellitus

To identify patients at high risk for sudden death, a group of stable patients on maintenance dialysis with diabetes mellitus were studied for up to 135 months to determine if there were clinical, laboratory or echocardiographic predictors of high risk. Eighty-two patients on maintenance dialysis who underwent clinical, laboratory evaluation and echocardiography were enrolled and followed for a mean of 25 months for cardiac and noncardiac complications. Thirty-seven patients with normal wall motion and left ventricular (LV) internal diameter had a mean survival of 35.8 months; 28 patients survived >12 months. Seven patients with normal LV wall motion and dilated LV cavities had a mean survival of 45.7 months; 7 patients survived >12 months. Fifteen patients with abnormal LV wall motion and normal internal LV dimensions had a mean survival of 17 months; 7 patients survived >12 months. Twenty-three patients with both abnormal LV wall motion and dilated LV cavities had a mean survival of 7.8 months; 5 patients survived >12 months. Although echocardiographic abnormalities predicted cardiac mortality at 6 and 12 months, the combination of an abnormal standard electrocardiogram at baseline, clinical history of angina pectoris, and prior documented myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure did not. When the study group was divided by mode or duration of dialysis, presence or absence of diabetes, or use of cardioactive drugs, echocardiographic LV wall motion abnormalities remained the most important determinant of survival.

The comparative value of exercise echocardiography and 99m Tc MIBI single photon emission computed tomography in the diagnosis and localization of myocardial ischaemia

To determine the relative value of exercise two-dimensional echocardiography and 99m Tc methoxyisobutylisonitrile single photon emission computed tomography (MIBI SPECT) for the detection of myocardial ischaemia, 103 consecutive patients with either proven or suspected coronary artery disease, who were referred for perfusion scintigraphy, were studied by a combination of the two techniques during the same symptom-limited upright bicycle exercise test. Appropriate echocardiographic images were recorded both at rest and immediately post-exercise and subsequently analysed by means of digital cine loop processing. Both echocardiographic and MIBI SPECT images were visually analysed. For each technique, three different responses to exercise were defined: normal (absence of rest and exercise abnormalities); ischaemic (transient scintigraphic perfusion defects and transient wall motion abnormalities during exercise echocardiography); and fixed abnormalities (fixed scintigraphic perfusion defects; echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities at rest without worsening after exercise). To allow a valid comparison of each technique in localizing ischaemia, the left ventricle was divided into the following six major regions for both methods: anterior, posterolateral, inferior, interventricular septum (subdivided in anterior and posterior septum) and apex. Eleven of the 103 patients had to be excluded from the final analysis because of unsatisfactory examinations: seven with non-interpretable exercise echocardiograms and four with non-interpretable MIBI SPECT images. The response to exercise was concordantly classified by both techniques in 84% of patients (k = 0.78). Exercise echocardiography revealed the presence of ischaemia in 38 and MIBI SPECT in 45 patients (agreement = 77%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regional and Global Myocardial Circulatory and Metabolic Effects of Isofturane and Halothane in Patients with Steal-prone Coronary Anatomy

The use of isoflurane in patients with coronary artery disease remains controversial because of the possibility of "coronary steal". In this study, the effects of isoflurane and halothane on global and regional myocardial blood flow and metabolism were compared, and the relationship between steal-induced myocardial ischemia and the administered volatile anesthetic was investigated in 40 patients with steal-prone coronary anatomy undergoing elective coronary artery bypass operations. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either isoflurane or halothane (0.5 MAC inspired concentration) immediately after induction with fentanyl (50 micrograms/kg). Hemodynamic measurements and blood samples were obtained at preinduction, postintubation, preincision, poststernotomy, at 60 min after beginning isoflurane or halothane, and precannulation (a total of 238 study events). Throughout the study, heart rate was kept constant by atrial pacing at approximately postintubation values while arterial pressure was maintained within 10% of postintubation values with fluid administration or phenylephrine infusion. Overall, systemic hemodynamic changes observed during the study were similar in the two groups. Myocardial ischemic episodes were defined as a new electrocardiographic ST-segment shift of greater than or equal to 0.1 mV, new echocardiographic regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) and/or myocardial lactate production (MLP). A total of 18 new ischemic episodes were detected in 15 patients (7 episodes during isoflurane in 7 patients and 11 during halothane in 8 patients). Ten (56%) episodes were related to acute hemodynamic abnormalities, whereas 8 (44%) were random and unrelated to changes. Seven episodes were detected by echocardiography (38%), 6 by MLP (33%) and 1 by ECG (6%) only, whereas concomitant echocardiographic abnormalities and MLP were observed during 2 episodes (11%), echocardiographic and ECG during 1 (6%), and ECG and MLP during 1 other (6%). Ratios of regional to global coronary venous flow, coronary vascular resistance, myocardial oxygen content, and lactate extraction, along with hemodynamic data obtained during these episodes, do not support coronary steal for the development of myocardial ischemia. We conclude that in patients with steal-prone coronary anatomy anesthetized with fentanyl, neither isoflurane nor halothane administered at concentrations used in the current study is likely to cause myocardial ischemia by the coronary steal mechanism.

Synchronized coronary venous retroperfusion for support and salvage of ischemic myocardium during elective and failed angioplasty

To determine the safety and efficacy of synchronized coronary venous retroperfusion during brief periods of ischemia, 30 patients undergoing angioplasty of the left anterior descending coronary artery were studied. Each patient underwent a minimum of two angioplasty balloon inflations. Alternate dilations were supported with retroperfusion; the unsupported inflations served as the control inflations. Synchronized retroperfusion was performed by pumping autologous femoral artery blood by means of an electrocardiogram-triggered retroperfusion pump into the great cardiac vein through a triple lumen 8.5F balloon-tipped retroperfusion catheter inserted percutaneously from the right internal jugular vein. Clinical symptoms, hemodynamics and two-dimensional echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities were analyzed. Retroperfusion was associated with a lower angina severity score (0.8 +/- 1 vs. 1.2 +/- 1) and delay in onset of angina (53 +/- 31 vs. 37 +/- 14 s; p less than 0.05) compared with the control inflations. The magnitude of ST segment change was 0.11 +/- 0.14 mV with retroperfusion and 0.16 +/- 0.17 mV without treatment (p less than 0.05). The severity of left ventricular wall motion abnormality was also significantly (p less than 0.01) reduced with retroperfusion compared with control (0.7 +/- 1.4 [hypokinesia] vs. -0.3 +/- 1.6 [dyskinesia]). There were no significant changes in hemodynamics, except in mean coronary venous pressure, which increased from 8 +/- 3 mm Hg at baseline to 13 +/- 6 mm Hg with retroperfusion. Four patients required prolonged retroperfusion for treatment of angioplasty-induced complications. The mean retroperfusion duration in these patients was 4 +/- 2 h (range 2 to 7). In the three patients who underwent emergency bypass surgery, the coronary sinus was directly visualized during surgery and found to be without significant injury. There were no major complications. Minor adverse effects were transient atrial fibrillation (n = 2), jugular venous catheter insertion site hematomas (n = 4) and atrial wall staining (n = 1), all of which subsided spontaneously. Thus, retroperfusion significantly reduced and delayed the onset of coronary angioplasty-induced myocardial ischemia and provided effective supportive therapy for failed and complicated angioplasty.

Myocardial Injury Following the Intentional Inhalation of Typewriter Correction Fluid

The first known case of myocardial injury, as documented by evolutionary electrocardiographic changes and echocardiographic septal wall motion abnormality associated with the voluntary inhalation of typewriter correction fluid, is reported. Typewriter correction fluid, which contains a combination of chlorinated hydrocarbons, is rapidly becoming a substance of abuse. Therefore, primary care practitioners should be alerted to specific organ system damages that may arise from the voluntary inhalation of this substance.

Dynamic Predictors of Perioperative Risk

Reduction in perioperative cardiac morbidity requires new approaches to the management of cardiac surgery patients or high-risk noncardiac surgery patients. Studies that have addressed the perioperative dynamic predictors of risk suggest a number of conclusions. Intraoperative hypotension and tachycardia appear to be risk factors for perioperative cardiac morbidity, whereas the role of hypertension remains controversial. It has recently been shown that ischemia occurring prior to bypass doubles or triples the risk of subsequent myocardial infarction. Electrocardiographic determination of ST segment depression is used as an indicator of ischemia, as are changes in ventricular filling pressure. Although increases in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure have proved to be reliable indicators of ischemia, changes in pulmonary capillary wedge pressure or pulmonary artery diastolic pressure have not. Perioperative segmental wall-motion or wall-thickening abnormalities appear to provide the most sensitive clinical measure of ischemia. Preliminary data also suggest that transesophageal echocardiographic wall-motion abnormalities may predict adverse outcome following cardiac surgery. Recent information regarding dynamic predictors of perioperative cardiac morbidity stresses the importance of the postoperative period.

Usefulness of Immediate Postexercise Two-Dimensional Echocardiography in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients Without Ischemic ECG Changes in Stress Testing: Comparison with Radionuclide Angiography

Of 38 post-myocardial infarction (MI) applicants for a cardiac rehabilitation program, 17 (45%) did not have ischemic ECG changes in exercise testing. Ten (59%) of these 17 patients had echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities at rest. Immediate postexercise two-dimensional echocardiography demonstrated exercise-induced changes in 8 (47%) patients (2 with normal and 6 with abnormal results from rest studies). The comparative radionuclide (RNA) examinations showed that there were 6 patients with abnormal findings from rest RNA; exercise-induced changes were detected in 7 (44%) of 16 patients (3 with normal and 4 with abnormal results from rest RNA tests). Statistical analyses, using RNA as reference point, revealed that the total correctly diagnosed cases for the echocardiographic rest studies was 13/17 (77%) and for the exercise studies, 13/16 (81%). The negative predictive values were 7/7 (100%) and 7/8 (88%), respectively. The corresponding positive predictive values were 6/10 (60%) and 6/8 (75%). The same pattern was observed when each segment (septal, apical, and posterolateral) was evaluated separately. The authors conclude that in post-MI patients with a negative stress test, the efficacy of postexercise echocardiography equals that of RNA in the identification of additional patients with ischemia.

The effects of successful PTCA on left ventricular function: Assessment by exercise echocardiography

To assess the usefulness of exercise echocardiography in the follow-up of patients after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), we studied 56 patients at rest and immediately following exercise with two-dimensional echocardiography. Sixty-nine of 73 stress/echo studies (94%) were suitable for interpretation. Seventeen patients (group I) with significant coronary artery disease (CAD) were studied before and after PTCA. Sixteen patients with coronary disease not undergoing PTCA (group II) and 23 individuals without significant coronary disease (group III) served as age-matched controls. Left ventricular ejection fraction did not change significantly in group I patients prior to PTCA (56 ± 7 versus 54 ± 12, p = ns) or in group II patients (52 ± 10 versus 56 ± 15, p = ns), rest versus immediate after exercise measurements. Following angioplasty, left ventricular ejection fraction increased in group I patients from 55 ± 7 to 65 ± 8, p < 0.001 from rest to exercise, and to a similar extent in group III individuals (55 ± 6 to 66 ± 8, p < 0.001). Electrocardiographic (ECG) evidence of ischemia (>1 mm ST segment depression) was found in 13 of 17 group I patients prior to PTCA and in 8 of 16 group II patients (CAD). None of the 25 normal patients and four of the group I patients following PTCA had abnormal ECG changes with exercise. New exercise-induced echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities were found in 12 of 17 group I patients prior to PTCA and in none of the group I patients following PTCA. Eight of 16 group II patients and none of the group III patients had exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities noted. The combination of exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities and 1 mm ECG ST segment depression improved the sensitivity over either technique alone (16 of 17 group I patients prior to PTCA and 15 of 16 group II patients had either echocardiographic or ECG evidence of ischemia, while four of the group I patients following PTCA and none of the normal individuals exhibited abnormalities with exercise). These data suggest that the addition of two-dimensional echocardiography to standard ECG exercise testing may be helpful in assessing the functional significance of coronary artery lesions prior to angioplasty and evaluating the results of successful angioplasty on left ventricular global and regional function.

Postmyocardial infarction pain and infarct extension in the coronary care unit: Role of two-dimensional echocardiography

Recent data suggest that patients who manifest extension of their acute myocardial infarct have a worse prognosis than do those who do not have this complication and, if identified early, may be candidates for more aggressive intervention. Serial two-dimensional echocardiography was used to diagnose myocardial infarct extension in 33 consecutive patients and its sensitivity was compared with that of electrocardiography (ECG) and serum creatine kinase determination. Infarct extension was diagnosed clinically using ECG and enzymatic criteria. The echocardiograms were scored using a weighted regional scoring system, with each segment of the left ventricle ascribed a percent of the total left ventricular mass. Abnormal regions were summed to yield a percent asynergy.In the postinfarction period, 19 episodes of acute ischemia occurred; in 9 of these episodes clinical extension was confirmed, and in 7 of the 9 episodes echocardiographic extension was detected. In the patients in whom infarct extension was documented clinically, the mean asynergy score increased from a mean of 19.2 ± 11.3% to 36.1 ± 18.2% (p < 0.01). Where no extension was detected, the asynergy score improved from the initial 31.5 ± 24.1% to 28.3 ± 21.9% (p < 0.05). The extent of the change in echocardiographic wall motion abnormality was not predicted by the amount of creatine kinase reelevation.Electrocardiography alone failed to distinguish which episodes of ischemia represented infarct extension and which did not. Greater degrees of asynergy were associated with worse in-hospital mortality. Two-dimensional echo cardiography is a useful method for detecting myocardial infarct extension providing a means of assessing functional impact and prognosis.

Predominant right ventricular infarction. Clinical and electrocardiographic features.

Based on two-dimensional echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities, 82 patients with acute inferior wall myocardial infarction were divided into 3 groups: group 1. predominant right ventricular infarction-20 patients; group 2. combined right and left ventricular infarction-33 patients; and group 3. predominant left ventricular infarction-29 patients. There were no significant statistical differences between the three groups regarding age, sex, Killip class on admission and jugular venous engorgement. Group 2 patients had higher peak creatine kinase levels and a lower rate of life threatening ventricular arrhythmia than the other groups. On M-mode echo, patients in group 1 had higher RV/LV ratios and lower left ventricular systolic and diastolic dimensions than group 3 patients. On 2-D echo and radionuclear studies, group 1 patients had more right ventricular wall motion abnormalities and minimal left ventricular wall motion disturbances. The left ventricular ejection fraction was higher and the right ventricular ejection fraction lower in group 1 patients than in those groups 2 and 3. The electrocardiogram showed small Q and relatively tall R waves in II, III, AVF in group 1 patients, and deep Q with loss of R waves in patients with combined or exclusive left ventricular infarction (groups 2 and 3). We conclude that predominant right ventricular infarction, which occurs in 24% of inferior wall infarction patients cannot be characterized clinically; however, an electrocardiographic pattern was found to detect this form of infarction with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 70%. Combined left and right ventricular infarction and exclusive left ventricular infarction could be detected electrocardiographically with a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of only 30%.

Role of transient ischaemia and perioperative myocardial infarction in the genesis of new septal wall motion abnormalities after coronary bypass surgery.

To evaluate the role of ischaemia in the genesis of new septal wall motion abnormalities after coronary artery bypass surgery 45 patients were studied by cross sectional echocardiography before and 8-10 days after operation. Regional left ventricular wall motion was classified as normal, hypokinetic, akinetic, or dyskinetic. Septal wall motion abnormalities were correlated with electrocardiographic Q wave changes and serial serum MB creatine kinase measured before and 4, 7, 21, 48, and 72 hours after operation. Of the 14 patients who developed new septal wall motion abnormalities after operation two developed septal akinesis (both had perioperative infarction) and one new dyskinesis in the previously akinetic septal segment. Of the 11 patients with new septal hypokinesis, eight had normal serial creatine kinase MB values, two had raised values peaking four and seven hours after operation, with a return to normal values at 21 hours indicating transient ischaemia, and one had enzymatic criteria for perioperative infarction. Most new echocardiographic septal wall motion abnormalities after coronary artery bypass grafting are not caused by transient ischaemia, perioperative infarction, or generalised cell necrosis.

The value of echocardiographic regional wall motion abnormalities in detecting coronary artery disease in patients with or without a dilated left ventricle

To evaluate the usefulness of echocardiographic regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) in detecting coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with left ventricular (LV) sysfunction and a normal-sized or dilated left ventricle, 103 patients were studied by two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and cardiac catheterization. In 60 patients (group I) who had LV dysfunction and a dilated left ventricle by echo (patients with dilated cardiomyopathy), RWMA were detected in 44 patients and 38 (86%) of them had significant CAD, usually two- or three-vessel obstruction; of the 16 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and diffuse LV hypokinesis, eight (50%) had evidence of CAD. Thus the presence of RWMA by 2DE had an 83% sensitivity, a 57% specificity, and a 77% predictive accuracy in detecting CAD in patients with DCM and thus in distinguishing ischemic from idiopathic DCM. In 43 patients with LV dysfunction but normal LV size (group II), the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive accuracy of RWMA in detecting significant CAD was 95%, 100%, and 95%, respectively. We conclude that the detection of RWMA by 2DE is highly suggestive of significant CAD in patients with LV dysfunction and normal-sized or dilated left ventricle; the finding, however, of diffuse LV hypokinesis does not exclude CAD in these patients, especially when the left ventricle is dilated.

Ejection fraction determination without planimetry by two-dimensional echocardiography: A new method

A new method for determining ejection fraction by two-dimensional echocardiography was assessed in 60 patients undergoing angiography. In method A, the left ventricular minor axis was measured at the midventricular cavity level in end-systole and end-diastole using the apical four chamber view in the 60 patients. The left ventricular major axis was also measured from the left ventricular apex to the base of the mitral valve at end-systole and end-diastole. The ejection fraction was determined using a modified cylinder-ellipse algorithm. In method B, measurements of the left ventricular minor axis were made in 40 consecutive patients, at the upper, middle and lower thirds of the left ventricular cavity at end-systole and end-diastole of the same cardiac cycle and left ventricular major axis was measured as in method A. With use of the same algorithm, three regional ejection fractions were determined and averaged to yield the total ejection fraction. The two echocardiographic methods were compared with single plane cineangiography in all patients and with gated nuclear scanning in 14 patients. Reproducibility was assessed by interobserver comparison. Correlation was determined in all patients and then separately for those with echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities. The correlation coefficient for all patients was 0.79 (probability [p] less than 0.001) for method A and 0.90 (p less than 0.001) for method B. For patients with wall motion abnormalities, method A had a correlation coefficient of 0.38 (p less than 0.1) and method B showed much higher correlation with r = 0.82 (p less than 0.001). Corresponding values for methods A and B in patients without wall motion abnormality were 0.85 (p less than 0.001) and 0.88 (p less than 0.001), respectively. Unlike a previous study, this method directly measures fractional shortening of left ventricular major axis and ejection fraction values are not arbitrarily modified by type of wall motion abnormality. With this method, accurate measurement of ejection fraction can be made by two-dimensional echocardiography without planimetry. In the absence of echocardiographic wall motion abnormalities, a very simple method A suffices. If wall motion abnormalities are present, the regional ejection fraction method B provides excellent results.

Echocardiographic Indices of Left Ventricular Function: A Comparison

Multiple M-mode echocardiographic indices of left ventricular function are currently in use, but their reliability is disputed. Therefore, we correlated echo ejection fraction (EF) using quadratic (Q) and cubic (C) formulae, percentage of minor axis shortening (%S), mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (mVCF), and peak VCF with angiographic EF in 37 subjects, including 10 normal subjects. None had echocardiographic segmental wall motion abnormalities. Significant linear correlations were found between angiographic EF and EFc (r = 0.78), %S (r = 0.77), EFQ(r = 0.68), peak VCF (r = 0.68), and mVCF (r = 0.58). However, for all indices, the scatter was too great to permit reliable quantitative estimations of angiographic EF based on echo date. Peak VCF was qualitatively the most reliable predictor of ventricular function, being greater than or equal to 2.00 circumference per second in 23 of 25 patients with angio EF greater than or equal to 55 percent and less than 2.00 circumferences per second in 11 of 12 with EF less than 55 (sensitivity [sens] 92 percent, specificity [spec] 92 percent). Mean VCF (sens 83 percent, spec 80 percent), %S (sens 50 percent, spec 96 percent), EFC (senc 58 percent, spec 96 percent), and EFQ (sens 58 percent, spec 92 percent) were less satisfactory. We conclude that echo indices are reliable only as qualitative parameters of ventricular function. Peak VCF appears to be the most sensitive and specific qualitative index now available.