Transesophageal Doppler Echocardiography Research Articles

Measurement of cardiac output by transoesophageal Doppler echocardiography in anaesthetized horses: comparison with thermodilution

In order to determine if transoesophageal Doppler echocardiography could be used to estimate cardiac output in anaesthetized horses, we have compared the technique with estimations of cardiac output by thermodilution in eight healthy adult thoroughbreds. Measurements of aortic blood flow velocity were made by high pulse repetition frequency (HPRF) and continuous wave (CW) Doppler echocardiography from a 3.5-MHz transoesophageal probe. Cardiac output was increased during the study by administration of dobutamine, providing a range of cardiac output measurements by thermodilution from 15.0 to 64.4 liter min-1. Estimations derived from CW Doppler overestimated cardiac output compared with thermodilution (bias = 4.0 litre min-1). Estimations from HPRF Doppler echocardiography more closely reflected measurements obtained by thermodilution (bias = 0.7 litre min-1). Limits of agreement between the techniques were similar for both modes of insonation (HPRF = -7.7 to 9.1 litre min-1, CW = -4.9 to 12.8 litre min-1). There were significant differences in bias between both Doppler techniques and thermodilution for individual horses. As a result, for any individual horse, limits of agreement between the techniques were closer (HPRF = +/- 6.4 litre min-1, CW = +/- 7.6 litre min-1). We conclude that transoesophageal echocardiography provided an alternative, effective and non-invasive method for measurement of cardiac output in anaesthetized horses.

Valve repair for mitral regurgitation associated with isolated double-orifice mitral valve

Double-orifice mitral valve (DOMV) can occur as an isolated lesion or in association with other cardiac malformations of which atrioventricular canal defect is most common. 1 Isolated DOMV is, however, rarely identified when the valve is functioning normally. We present here a case with mitral regurgitation in isolated DOMV in which valve repair was done successfully. A 55-year-old man was referred to our hospital with exertional dyspnea. Physical examination showed a grade 4/6 holosystolic murmur at the left fourth intercostal space. The electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation. The chest x-ray film showed a dilated left atrium. Transthoracic two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography showed a DOMV with grade 4 mitral regurgitation because of a torn chorda at the mitral orifice of the anterolateral side. The left ventricular diastolic and systolic dimensions by echocardiography were 74 mm and 42 ram, respectively. Cardiac catheterization revealed a peak pulmonary capillary wedge pressure of 21 mm Hg. The left ventriculogram showed severe mitral regurgitation. An operation was done with the use of standard cardiopulmonary bypass with moderate hypothermia (28 ° C) and cold cardioplegic arrest. The left atrium was entered through the standard longitudinal incision. The mitral valve was found to have two orifices, which were completely separated by a fibromuscular bridging tissue (Fig. 1). The orifices were almost equal in size: the posteromedial orifice was 30 ram; the anterolateral orifice, 25 mm. Each orifice had its own site of chordal insertion. No cleft was identified on either the anterior or posterior leaflet of each orifice. One half of the posterior leaflet of the anterolateral orifice was found to have prolapse because of a torn chorda. A quadrangular segmental resection of the prolapsed posterior leaflet was done. Large, pledgeted 2-0 sutures were placed at the level of the anulus for plication. The split leaflet was sutured with interrupted 4-0 polypropylene sutures. Because the fibromuscular bridging tissue seemed to be unsuitable for placement of the annuloplasty ring, another pledgeted suture was added to reinforce the plicated anulus. By this procedure, the anterolateral orifice was reduced to 10 mm in diameter. Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography showed trivial mitral regurgitation from the repaired anterolateral orifice. The patient was discharged from the hospital on postoperative day 15 after an uneventful recovery. Various classifications for DOMV have been proposed on the basis of the size and location of the two orifices. 1-3 The case presented here is an example of a complete type in the classification of Trowitzsch and colleagues 2 and of a central type in the classification of Cascos, Rabago, and Sokolowski. 3 In the majority of isolated cases of DOMV, the second orifice is found as an accessory orifice, which is the cause of mitral regurgitation, s'4 For this type of accessory orifice, simple closure has been the choice to correct mitral regurgitation. 4 Mitral regurgitation associated with isolated DOMV with two equal orifices as in our case has rarely been described in previous literature. 5 Because no cleft was identified at operation, the choices of treatment seemed to be repair or closure of the valve. In a case with two equal orifices, however, closure of one orifice might produce acute diminution of the mitral valve area leading to a stenotic condition. 6 In addition, closure of the orifice might possibly cause deformity at the fibrous bridging tissue, leading to incompetence of another intact orifice. Considering the possible problem in closure of the orifice and the finding of a torn chorda located only at the posterior leaflet, valve repair was chosen in our case. The

Acquired Intercostal Arteriovenous Fistulas: Transesophageal Doppler Echocardiographic Diagnosis.

Acquired intercostal arteriovenous fistulas are recognized complications of traumatic injuries. In this article, transesophageal Doppler echocardiographic findings in a patient with posttraumatic acquired intercostal arteriovenous fistulas are presented. The findings have been confirmed by angiography. The demonstration of intercostal arteriovenous fistulas by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography has not been reported before. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, November 1996)

A Case of Cardiac Amyloidosis Presenting with Mid- to Late Diastolic Retrograde Flow from the Left Atrium to the Pulmonary Vein: Transesophageal Pulsed Doppler Echocardiographic Observations.

A patient of cardiac amyloidosis was found to have mid- to late diastolic retrograde flow from the left atrium (LA) to the pulmonary vein. Congo-red staining was positive for amyloid in the rectal tissue. M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiograms revealed symmetric hypertrophy and typical speckled pattern of the left ventricle (LV). The LV pressure curve showed a dip and plateau configuration during diastole, and end-diastolic pressure was 28 mmHg. In addition, the LV pressure was high at mid-diastole, surpassing the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure from mid- to late diastole. The transmitral flow velocity revealed "restrictive" pattern, and the pulmonary venous flow velocity showed retrograde flow from the LA to the pulmonary vein during mid-diastole and atrial systole. It is suggested that recording of the pulmonary venous flow velocity by transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography is useful for understanding the mechanism of the development of pulmonary congestion or edema. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, November 1996)

Transoesophageal echocardiographic assessment of mitral and aortic valve function during cardiopulmonary resuscitation

There has been controversy over whether forward blood flow during closed-chest cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is generated by a general increase in intrathoracic pressure (chest-pump theory) or by creating atrioventricular gradients that close the mitral valve and open the aortic valve during thoracic compression (cardiac pump theory). The crucial issue is the position of the mitral valve during the downstroke of chest movement. Questions remain over the actual mechanics of mitral and aortic valve function. This report describes an intraoperative cardiac arrest followed by CPR during which routinely instituted two-dimensional transoesophageal Doppler echocardiography enabled study of the motion of the valves of the left heart and the transmitral blood flow.

Color Doppler Transesophageal Echocardiography in Detection of Massive Pulmonary Embolism: Is Pulmonary Angiography Always the Gold Standard?

In this article, the potential value of color Doppler in improving diagnostic accuracy of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in patients with incomplete obstruction of large pulmonary vessels is illustrated. We present an unusual case of massive pulmonary embolism that was unequivocally detected by color Doppler TEE both before and after pulmonary angiography, which failed to demonstrate filling defects in the pulmonary artery. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, November 1996)

Usefulness of multiplane transesophageal echocardiography to improve the assessment of severity of mitral regurgitation

This study was designed to examine the accuracy of multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) color Doppler measurements in comparison to monoplane or biplane measurements in estimating the severity of mitral regurgitation (MR). Multiplane TEE potentially increases diagnostic accuracy of transesophageal examinations; it is unknown if multiplane is more accurate in assessing the severity of MR than monoplane or biplane TEE. Left ventricular cineangiograms of 91 patients with MR (40 no or mild, 30 moderate, and 21 severe) were compared with systolic pulmonary venous flow reversal and transesophageal color Doppler measurements: jet area and length in the transverse and longitudinal plane, maximal and average of those 2 planes (biplane), and maximal and average of 11 different planes (multiplane). Flow reversal (16 patients) identified severe MR with a specificity of 96% and a sensitivity of 62%; these were 96% and only 10% to 43%, respectively, for color Doppler measurements. In the absence of flow reversal, multiplane maximal jet area predicted severe MR with a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 75%, which were 85% and 76%, respectively, for no or mild MR; this did not differ significantly from results obtained by monoplane or biplane measurements. Color Doppler measurements of eccentric jets were not reliable for identification of severe MR. Systolic pulmonary venous flow reversal identifies 2 of 3 patients with severe MR with a high accuracy. In patients without flow reversal, multiplane color Doppler TEE is very capable of assessing MR severity, but biplane and monoplane TEE are equally accurate.

Relationship between pulmonary capillary wedge V wave and transmitral and pulmonary venous flow velocity patterns in various heart diseases

Background: A large V wave in a pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) tracing is characteristic of mitral regurgitation. However, the V wave is often increased in patients without or with no significant mitral regurgitaion. Methods and Results: The V wave was in the PCWP tracing investigated in 65 patientsusing transmitral flow (TMF) and pulmonary venous flow (PVF) velocity patterns obtained by transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography. A large V wave was defined if the peak V wave minus the mean PCWP (V - mPCWP) was greater than 7 mmHg. Three study groups were formed: 15 patients with large V waves and significant mitral regurgitation, 15 patients with large V waves with no significant mitral regurgitation, and 35 patients with small V waves. The mPCWP and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure were greatest in the group with large V waves and no significant mitral regurgitation. Peak early diastolic TMF and PVF velocities were significantly greater in the two groups with large V waves. The peak second systolic PVF velocity was lowest in the group with large V waves and significant mitral regurgitation, followed by the group with large V waves and no significant mitral regurgitation. The V - mPCWP was positively correlated with the peak early diastolic TMF and PVF velocities and negatively correlated with the peak second systolic PVF velocities. Additionally, mitral regurgitation severity in patients with large V waves and significant mitral regurgitation was positively correlated with the peak early diastolic TMF and PVF velocities and negatively correlated with the peak second systolic PVF velocity. Conclusions: These results suggest that large V waves in PCWP tracings appear not only insevere mitral regurgitation, but also in any condition with markedly elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. Combined analysis of the TMF and PVF velocity patterns is helpful in determining the etiology of these hemodynamic abnormalities.

Echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function

Echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function

Doppler transesophageal echocardiographic determination of aortic valve area in adults with aortic stenosis

Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography has been shown to be an accurate method of measuring aortic valve area in patients with aortic stenosis. The accuracy of Doppler transesophageal echocardiography for this purpose is unknown. Thus 86 consecutive adult patients (mean age 68 ± 11 years) with calcific ( n = 79) or congenital bicuspid ( n = 7) AS were studied by biplane or multiplane transesophageal echocardiography. From the transgastric long-axis view, continuous wave Doppler of peak aortic valve velocity and pulsed Doppler of left ventricular outflow tract velocity were determined. Left ventricular outflow tract diameter was measured from a transesophageal echocardiography long-axis view, and cross-sectional area was calculated. Aortic valve area was calculated by the continuity equation. Two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography was used to directly measure aortic valve area by planimetry of the minimal orifice from a short-axis view. Aortic valve area determination was less feasible by Doppler (62 of 86 patients, or 72%) versus two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (81 of 86 patients, or 94%; p < 0.0025) because of the inability to align the continuous wave Doppler beam with the aorta in 24 patients. The feasibility of obtaining aortic valve area by Doppler transesophageal echocardiography improved from the first 43 patients (24 of 43 patients, or 56%) to the latter 43 patients (38 of 43 patients, or 88%; p < 0.0025) and suggests a significant learning curve. In 62 patients, aortic valve area by Doppler and two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography did not differ (1.30 ± 0.54 cm 2 vs 1.23 ± 0.46 cm 2, p = not significant) and correlated well ( r = 0.88; standard error of the estimate = 0.26 cm 2; intercept = 0.02 cm 2; slope = 1.04; p = 0.0001). Absolute and percent differences between aortic valve area measured by Doppler and two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography were small (0.18 ± 0.20 cm 2 and 15% ± 15%, respectively). Mild, moderate, and severe aortic stenosis by two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography was correctly identified in 93% (28 of 30), 79% (15 of 19), and 77% (10 of 13) of patients by Doppler transesophageal echocardiography, respectively. Doppler transesophageal echocardiography is an accurate method to measure aortic valve area in patients with aortic stenosis and should complement two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. The feasibility of Doppler transesophageal echocardiography for aortic valve area determination has a significant learning curve

Characterization of left atrial appendage Doppler flow in atrial fibrillation and flutter by Fourier analysis

The aim of this study was to characterize left atrial appendage mechanical function in atrial fibrillation and flutter by Fourier analysis to analyze frequency and regularity of flow. Left atrial appendage function is central to a patient's risk for thromboembolism. Although the function of the appendage can be analyzed by Doppler echocardiography in sinus rhythm, its mechanical function in atrial fibrillation and flutter has not been well characterized. This lack of adequate definition is caused by the complexity and temporal variability of the Doppler flow profiles. We assessed left atrial appendage function in 21 cases of atrial fibrillation ( n = 11) and flutter ( n = 10) and five in sinus rhythm with transesophageal Doppler echocardiography. Doppler profiles were examined by Fourier analysis, and the power spectra compared and analyzed between patients with atrial fibrillation and flutter. Left atrial appendage Doppler flow in atrial fibrillation produced Fourier spectra over a narrow band of frequencies with a peak frequency of 6.2 ± 1.0 Hz, significantly higher than in atrial flutter (3.9 ± 0.6 Hz, p < 0.00001). Additionally, a significant difference in subharmonic modulation (spectral power below the peak frequency) was observed between atrial appendage flow in atrial fibrillation and flutter, because 37% ± 16% of the total spectral power was achieved before the dominant frequency in atrial fibrillation compared with 20% ± 14% in atrial flutter ( p = 0.02). Conversely, patients in sinus rhythm exhibited broad-banded Fourier spectra with most of the power in discrete frequency spikes at harmonics above the fundamental frequency with very little subharmonic modulation (1% ± 0.05%). Left atrial appendage function in atrial fibrillation and flutter can be well characterized by Fourier analysis of Doppler flow. Atrial fibrillation has higher dominant frequencies and greater subharmonic modulation compared with flutter. Moreover, atrial fibrillation demonstrated quasiperiodic contraction patterns typically found in chaotic systems. Fourier analysis of left atrial appendage contraction patterns may therefore have significant promise in providing insights into mechanisms of atrial fibrillation and thromboembolism.

Possible mechanisms of mitral regurgitation in dilated hearts: a study using transesophageal echocardiography.

This study was undertaken to clarify the mechanisms of mitral regurgitation (MR) in dilated hearts. In all, 68 patients with dilated heart and MR, including 26 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), 24 with prior anterior myocardial infarction (A-MI), and 18 with prior posteroinferior myocardial infarction (I-MI), as well as 25 normal subjects were examined by transesophageal two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography. The maximum area of the MR signal in the DCM group correlated positively with the anteroposterior diameter of the mitral annulus at late systole. Although the coaptation edge length of the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets appeared shorter in dilated hearts than in the hearts of controls, a significant difference did not exist. The length of the coaptation edge correlated negatively with the maximum area of the MR signal in all dilated hearts, and characteristic systolic displacement of the coaptation point of both mitral leaflets occurred. The MI groups demonstrated anterior and posterior displacement in the direction of the short axis of the left ventricle in the A-MI and I-MI groups, respectively. However, the DCM group demonstrated inferior displacement toward the long axis of the left ventricle; its magnitude correlated positively with the maximum area of the MR signal. A major cause of MR in dilated hearts is mitral malcoaptation due to displacement of the coaptation point of the mitral leaflets along the long or short axis of the left ventricle. This is caused by left ventricular enlargement and/or asynergy of the left ventricular wall, rather than by a decrease in mitral coaptation edge length due to mitral annular dilation.

Value of the cardiovascular physical examination for detecting valvular heart disease in asymptomatic subjects

To determine the accuracy of the cardiovascular physical examination for the diagnosis of asymptomatic valvular heart disease (VHD), we prospectively studied 143 subjects, 68 apparent normal subjects and 75 patients with diseases known to produce VHD. All subjects underwent a complete physical examination with dynamic cardiac auscultation by a physician blinded to clinical data and compared with the results of transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography (TEE). By TEE, 33 subjects (23%), and by physical examination, 25 subjects (17%) had at least 1 form of VHD. Despite a high frequency of mild valve abnormalities and a 31% prevalence of functional murmurs, the physical examination showed a sensitivity of 70%, a specificity of 98% (confidence interval = 0.51 to 0.84, and 0.94 to 0.99, respectively), and a positive and negative predictive value of 92% for the diagnosis of VHD. Only 2 of the 10 patients with VHD by TEE, but not by physical examination, had clinically important VHD. We conclude that the physical examination is a sensitive and highly specific method of screening for VHD in subjects without cardiac symptoms. Therefore, its use should be encouraged rather than the routine application of echocardiography.

Regional left atrial stasis during fibrillation and flutter determinants and relation to stroke

Objectives. This study sought to 1) determine the location of left atrial stasis during atrial arrhythmia; 2) define the degree of stasis associated with significant risk of stroke; and 3) identify clinical or transthoracic echocardiographic data useful for predicting left atrial stasis.Background. Prior studies suggest that stroke during atrial arrhythmia is related to stasis in either the body of the left atrium or the appendage. Recent data indicate that appendage stasis is associated with appendage thrombus formation, but stroke during atrial arrhythmia occurs frequently in the absence of appendage stasis.Methods. Blood flow velocity was measured in multiple sites in the body of the left atrium and in the appendage by transesophageal pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography in 89 patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter. Regional velocities were related to the frequency of probable embolic stroke and to clinical and transthoracic echocardiographic variables.Results. The lowest velocity region was either the posterior left strium or the appendage. Stroke frequency increases progressively and steeply with velocity <15 cm/s is either region; this cutoff value had an 87% sensitivity and 40% specificity for stroke. Factors related to stasis were low left atrial ejection fraction, mitral regurgitation <3+, fibrillation (vs. type 1 flutter), left ventricular dilation and mitral valve area <2.0 cm2.Conclusions. Posterior left atrial stasis appears to the as important as appendage statis for the risk of stroke, which increases sleeply with lower blood flow velocity in either region. Patients likely to have severe stasis during atrial arrhythmia are those with left ventricular dilation and low atrial ejection fraction accompanying left atrial dilation. Direct measurement of atrial velocity by transesophageal echocardiography appears to be useful for the identification of patients at risk for stroke during atrial arrhythmia.

Book Review: Atlas of Transesophageal Color Doppler Echocardiography and Intraoperative Imaging

Book Review: Atlas of Transesophageal Color Doppler Echocardiography and Intraoperative Imaging

Diagnosis of patent foramen ovale by transesophageal echocardiography and correlation with autopsy findings

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is accepted as the method of choice for the diagnosis of a patent foramen ovale (PFO). However, direct anatomic confirmation regarding the presence or absence of a PFO on transesophageal imaging has been obtained in only a limited number of patients. Consequently, this study was performed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of contrast and color Doppler TEE for detection of a PFO by comparing the results of TEE with autopsy. The study population comprised 35 consecutive patients (mean age 64 ± 14 years) who underwent autopsy and prior TEE with examination of the atrial septum. For diagnosis of a PFO, the following criteria were used: (1) no defect in the continuity of the atrial septum on 2-dimensional imaging; (2) ≥1 bright microbubble appearing in the left atrium within 3 heart cycles after opacification of the right atrium during contrast TEE; and (3) turbulent color jet within the atrial septum by color Doppler TEE. For estimating the PFO size, positive contrast studies were graded semiquantitatively (from 1 to 3), and the maximal color Doppler jet width was measured within the atrial septum at the area of maximal turbulence. At autopsy, a PFO was present in 9 of 35 patients (26%). All were correctly diagnosed by color Doppler TEE. The color Doppler jet width correlated well with the PFO diameter determined at autopsy (r = 0.99, SEE = 0.51 mm, p < 0.0001). By contrast TEE, 8 of the 9 patients with autopsy-proven PFO were correctly identified. In 1 case with left heart disease and a long interatrial channel, a PFO was missed by contrast TEE but clearly demonstrated by color Doppler TEE. All patients with a PFO diameter >10 mm showed intense left atrial opacification of grade 3. With both methods, there were no falsepositive results. Sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of a PFO were 89% and 100%, respectively, for contrast TEE, and both 100% for color Doppler TEE. Thus, contrast and color Doppler TEE are complementary and represent a highly sensitive and specific method for diagnosis of a PFO and for estimation of the PFO size.

Improved doppler detection of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis after intravenous injection of a lung-crossing contrast agent: A transesophageal doppler echocardiographic study

Objective.This study was designed to verify the usefulness of transesophageal Doppler recording of blood flow velocity in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery, after a peripheral injection of a lung-crossing contrast agent (SHU 508A), in detecting and locating a hemodynamically significant stenosis (vessel narrowing ≥50%) affecting this portion of the vessel.Background.Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography has a limited diagnostic impact on the evaluation of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenoses. Peripheral injection of SHU 508A, a lung-crossing contrast agent enhancing Doppler signal to noise ratio in coronary arteries, may allow recording of localized disturbed blood flow velocity at the stenosis site even in the absence of a clear B-mode visualization of the vessel.Methods.Transesophageal Doppler echocardiography, before and after echo contrast injection, was performed in 31 patients who underwent coronary angiography. Using color Doppler as a guide, pulsed wave Doppler recording of blood flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery was attempted to detect a localized increase in blood flow velocity. B-mode evaluation of the vessel was also performed.Results.Angiography showed a significant proximal left anterior descending coronary artery stenosis in 16 patients (group 1) and no stenosis in 15 patients (group 2). In 15 of 16 group 1 patients, Doppler after contrast injection revealed a localized velocity increase of at least 50% of the reference value; mean (±SD) percent increase in velocity was 150 ± 89% (range 367% to 0%). In group 2 Doppler after contrast injection revealed a mild localized increase in velocity in four patients and no increase in velocity in the remaining 11 patients; mean (±SD) percent increase in velocity was 5 ± 7% (range 21% to 0%, p < 0.001 vs. percent increase in group 1). When a percent velocity increase ≥50% of the reference value was considered a positive criterion for detecting significant stenosis, the sensitivity and specificity were 92% and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity of the evaluation before contrast injection or considering B-mode imaging alone was much lower (25% and 19%, respectively, p < 0.001 vs. evaluation after contrast injection). In addition, color Doppler after contrast injection correctly located the stenosis along the vessel, as compared with angiography.Conclusions.Blood flow evaluation of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography after contrast injection is a feasible and reliable method for detecting and locating significant stenoses affecting this part of the vessel and is an improvement over the traditional ultrasound approach.

Coronary flow reserve and exercise capacity in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation of coronary flow velocity (CFV) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) to exercise capacity in ten verapamil-treated patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC). Using Doppler transesophageal echocardiography, we assessed diastolic CFV in the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery at baseline and after administering 0.56 mg/kg intravenous dipyridamole. The CFR was calculated as the post-dipyridamole/baseline diastolic CFV ratio. A maximal symptom-limited exercise treadmill test was performed according to a modified Bruce protocol and the exercise capacity was expressed as metabolic equivalents. The mean value for baseline diastolic CFV was 59 +/- 27 cm/s; this increased after dipyridamole to 134 +/- 57 cm/s. The CFR was 2.37 +/- 0.67. Baseline diastolic CFV correlated negatively with both exercise duration (r = -0.69; P < 0.05) and value for metabolic equivalents (r = -0.70; P < 0.05). CFR was weakly and non-significantly related to exercise duration (r = 0.40; P > 0.05) and to the value for metabolic equivalents (r = 0.32; P > 0.05). Shortening of exercise time and decreasing metabolic equivalents were correlated with increased baseline diastolic CFV. Dipyridamole-assessed CFR, was weakly related to parameters of exercise capacity.

Influence of aging on left atrial appendage flow velocity patterns in normal subjects

Transesophageal pulsed Doppler echocardiography was performed to examine changes with age in the left atrial appendage flow velocity patterns in 50 normal subjects (15 to 80 years) in sinus rhythm. There was a significant negative correlation between the peak early diastolic forward and backward left atrial appendage flow velocities and age, as well as a significant positive correlation between the peak early diastolic forward left atrial appendage flow velocity and the peak early diastolic transmitral and pulmonary venous flow velocities. Although there was a significant positive correlation between the peak atrial systolic transmitral flow velocity and age, there was a negative correlation between the peak atrial systolic forward and backward left atrial appendage flow velocities and age. There was a positive correlation between both the maximum left atrial diameter and the amplitude of the interatrial septal motion during atrial systole and age. There was a significant negative correlation between the left atrial appendage ejection fraction during atrial systole and age. Left atrial appendage thrombi and spontaneous echo contrast were detected in two subjects with low peak early diastolic and atrial systolic left atrial appendage flow velocities. In conclusion, both peak early diastolic and atrial systolic left atrial appendage flow velocities decreased with age. A decrease in the peak atrial systolic flow velocity appeared to be an important sign of left atrial appendage thrombus formation even in normal elderly subjects in sinus rhythm.

Transesophageal Color Doppler Echocardiographic Diagnosis of Cardiac Rupture Following Acute Myocardial Infarction.

This report describes a case of cardiac rupture following acute myocardial infarction accurately diagnosed by transesophageal color Doppler echocardiography, which showed a very narrow transmural tract from the left ventricle into the pseudoaneurysm cavity. Such a small, slitlike rupture would most likely have been missed by an otherwise routine transesophageal examination, and we stress the importance of color Doppler interrogation in its accurate diagnosis. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 13, May 1996)