Comparative evaluation of segmental asynergy in remote myocardial infarction by radionuclide angiography, two-dimensional echocardiography, and contrast ventriculography

Left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction, and regional wall motion calculated with gated technetium-99m tetrofosmin SPECT in reperfused acute myocardial infarction at super-acute phase: comparison with left ventriculography

BACKGROUND

Noninvasive assessment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) requires information about both myocardial perfusion and left ventricular (LV) function. The automated quantification of electrocardiographic-gated myocardial scintigraphy with technetium-99m tetrofosmin (QGS) can provide this information.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Coronary arteriography, QGS, and left ventriculography (LVG) were performed in 229 patients with reperfused AMI within 2 days after onset. All infarcted vascular territories (229 segments) were visualized with scintigraphic perfusion images. The mean wall motion score (WMS) was 15.9+/-2.8 by means of QGS and 16.3+/-2.9 by means of LVG. The correlation between WMS obtained by means of QGS and that obtained by means of LVG was close (y = 0.913x + 1.016, r = 0.94, P<.001), but that obtained by means of QGS was significantly lower than that obtained by means of LVG (P<.0001). Total agreement for the assessment of regional wall motion reached 75 % (kappa, 0.66). Although the LV values obtained by means of QGS and LVG correlated well (end-diastolic volume, r = 0.67, P<.0001; end-systolic volume, r = 0.79, P<.0001; ejection fraction, r = 0.78, P<.0001), end-diastolic volume and ejection fraction tended to be underestimated with QGS.

CONCLUSION

QGS data were considered to be useful in detecting infarcted vascular territory and LV function, even in AMI, within 2 days after onset.

Intraoperative detection of segmental wall motion abnormalities with transesophageal echocardiography

PURPOSE

To compare two methods of analysis of regional wall-motion (RWM) using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

METHODS

Thirty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were studied. The transgastric short axis view at the mid-papillary level was recorded before and after cardiopulmonary bypass. All images were reviewed by an anesthesiologist trained in TEE and an echocardiographer. Regional wall motion was graded: 1 normal, 2 hypokinetic, 3 akinetic, and 4 dyskinetic. The left ventricle was evaluated according to the guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography using 6-segment, and 4-segment models. Agreement between observers (interobservers), and for one observer at two different moments (intraobservers), for grading each segment was defined as RWM abnormality scores within 1 grade. A wall-motion score index (WMSI), which is the sum of individual scores divided by the number of segments visualized, was calculated. A Bland Altman analysis was used to assess interobserver variability.

RESULTS

Agreement between observers occurred in 96% and 94% of the examined segments, using 4- and 6-segment models respectively. Intraobserver agreement was 99% and 97% for the 4- and 6-segment models. The mean differences (bias) of the interobserver variability in grading the segments were 0.04 +/- 0.79 and 0 +/- 0.72 using a 4- or 6-segment model. The mean difference of the interobserver variability in WMSI were -0.05 +/- 0.42 and 0.05 +/- 0.37 using a 4- or a 6-segment model.

CONCLUSION

Both methods, using either a 4- or a 6-segment model, result in a high intraobserver and interobserver agreement, and a low interobserver variability.

Echocardiographic functional images based on tissue velocity information

Tissue velocity information (TVI) is acquired by sampling of tissue Doppler velocity values at discrete points. The information is stored in an interfoiled format with gray scale imaging during one or several cardiac cycle at a high temporal resolution, > 60 Hz, giving signals that tolerate mathematical processing as derivation, integration and Fourier analysis of velocity profiles without distortions. The software enables the possibility to analyze multiple velocity profiles from any localization within the acquired scanned sector. The myocardial tissue velocity direction and color-coded numerical value can be computed along any chosen curve form (C-line) and be presented as a spatial function of velocities against time (C-mode). The velocity curves can also be presented in several new functional modes as color-coded running cineloops: phase imaging, time delay imaging, amplitude imaging, acceleration imaging, instantaneous phase imaging, wrapped phase imaging. The software also allows color or C-mode presentation of tissue contraction and expansion. This facilitates the differentiation between active and passive myocardial tissue movements, thus improving the ability to differentiate between healthy and diseased myocardial tissue. This article presents several applications of the software in normals and in cardiac patients.

Value and limitations of two-dimensional echocardiography in predicting myocardial infarct size

To investigate the quantitative relations between the severity of regional wall motion abnormalities and segmental infarct size and between the severity of overall left ventricular dysfunction and global infarct size, a clinicopathologic study was undertaken of 30 patients who had a 2-dimensional (2-D) echocardiogram within 7 days before death. The severity of regional wall motion abnormalities was graded for each segment with a 2-D echocardiographic 14-segment model. The severity of global left ventricular dysfunction was calculated as the mean of the visualized regional wall motion scores. On pathologic examination of autopsy specimens, segmental infarct size was estimated as a percentage of the segmental cross-sectional area. The global infarct size was expressed as a percentage of the total left ventricular mass. At the segmental level, regional wall motion score was positively correlated (r = 0.53) with the segmental infarct size. The sensitivity and specificity of detecting infarcted segments by abnormal wall motion scores were 81 and 71%, respectively. All dyskinetic segments revealed infarct size of greater than or equal to 10%. The wall motion score index was positively correlated (r = 0.52) with the global infarct size. The mean global infarct size was 7% for the 8 patients with a wall motion score index of less than 2, which was significantly lower than the mean of 27% for the 22 patients with a wall motion score index of greater than or equal to 2 (p less than 0.001). A 2-D echocardiogram is sensitive and specific in detecting infarcted segments and can be useful in quantitating myocardial damage after myocardial infarction.

Unrecognized left ventricular dysfunction in an apparently healthy alcohol abuse population

To examine effects of chronic alcohol abuse on left ventricular function, 162 otherwise relatively healthy alcohol abusers, having been admitted to a rehabilitation program, underwent cardiac evaluation including chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and radionuclide angiography after 2 weeks abstinence. Twenty-nine of the 162 alcoholic subjects (18%) with left ventricular dysfunction were identified. Twenty-two had regional wall motion abnormalities, suggesting a localized process, of whom 12 also had depressed ejection fractions. Seven others had a depressed ejection fraction alone with a more global myopathic process. Only 4 of these 29 patients had any history suggesting prior heart disease. Two of the 29 had Q-waves greater than or equal to 0.4 s and 8 had an abnormal cardiothoracic ratio on chest X-ray. Chronic alcohol abusers appear to be at relatively high risk for left ventricular dysfunction; most of which is unrecognized. Routine screening methods failed to identify 85% of our subjects who later were recognized by radionuclide angiography. Since historical and electrocardiographic abnormalities are often absent in this population, detection of left ventricular dysfunction by other methods such as radionuclide angiography must be used.

Effects of acute myocardial infarction on the displacement of the atrioventricular plane: an echocardiographic study

The effects of acute myocardial infarction (MI) on the displacement of the left ventricular (LV) atrioventricular (AV) plane is presented. The material consisted of 40 patients with first-time Q-wave MI (26 pts with ant. MI and 14 with post. MI). Nineteen age-matched healthy subjects were used as controls. The displacement of the AV plane was determined at four sites corresponding to anterior (AV-A), septal (AV-S), posterior (AV-P) and lateral (AV-L) parts of the LV wall. In anterior and posterior MI all the sites showed significantly reduced AV-plane displacement compared to healthy subjects (P less than 0.001). Moreover, within the anterior MI group the AV-A and AV-S displacements were significantly reduced compared to the points AV-L and AV-P (P less than 0.001) and the AV-L displacement was reduced compared to AV-P (P less than 0.001). In posterior MI the displacement at AV-P was reduced compared to other points (P less than 0.001) and, to a certain extent, AV-S was reduced compared to the points AV-A and AV-L (P less than 0.001). The reduced magnitude of the AV plane displacement seems to be an expression of regionally reduced systolic function. The method described may provide a simple means of defining regional wall motion abnormalities of the LV following MI.

Diagnostic accuracy of 2-D echocardiography for detection of exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities in patients with coronary artery disease: comparison to biplane cineventriculography

To determine the accuracy of two-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo) for assessment of exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities in patients with coronary artery disease, the results of stress echocardiography were compared with exercise cineventriculography. In 56 consecutive patients, biplane cineventriculography at rest and immediately after supine bicycle exercise was performed. Cross-sectional echo was obtained using the apical two- and four-chamber-views for left ventricular imaging under identical conditions. In 6 of the 56 patients 2-D echo, in 8 patients cineventriculogram, and in 2 patients both methods were of inadequate quality at rest or during exercise. Of the remaining 40 patients, 34 had coronary artery disease. Local wall motion in 360 wall segments from these patients was analyzed. In 49 segments (14%) in 24 of these patients exercise-induced ischemic wall motion abnormalities were evident during cineventriculography. Only 24 of these 49 asynergies (49%) were also recognized by 2-D echo. Using cross-sectional echocardiography, ischemia-related wall motion abnormalities were best detected septal, whereas apical asynergies were identified in only 3 of 12 segments (25%). Thus, the clinical value of exercise 2-D echo as a screening method in patients suspected of having coronary artery disease is limited and restricted to patients where excellent visualization of the left ventricular endocardium is possible.

[Value of 2-D echocardiography in the detection of stress-induced wall-motion abnormalities in coronary heart disease--a comparison with biplane cineventriculography]

To determine the accuracy of echocardiography in assessment of exercise-induced wall motion abnormalities, the results of stress-echocardiography were compared with exercise-cineventriculography. In 56 consecutive patients biplane cineventriculography at rest and immediately after supine bicycle exercise was performed. Cross-sectional echocardiography was obtained using the apical 2- and 4-chamber view for LV imaging under identical exercise conditions. In 6 of the 56 patients 2-D echo, in 8 patients LV-angio, and in 2 patients both methods were of inadequate quality during exercise. Thus, in 40 patients (34 patients had coronary artery disease) local wall motion of 360 wall segments was analysed. 49 segments (14%) of 24 patients showed exercise-induced ischemic wall motion abnormalities during cineventriculography. Only 24 of these 49 asynergics (49%) were also detected by 2-D-echo. Using cross-sectional echocardiography, ischemia related wall motion abnormalities were best detected laterally and septaly, whereas apical asynergies were identified in 3 of 12 segments only. Thus, the clinical value of exercise 2-D echo as a screening method in patients suspected to have coronary artery disease is limited and restricted to patients with excellent visualization of the left ventricular endocardium.

Echocardiography and coronary artery disease: current and future applications

Echocardiographic techniques are becoming more widespread for evaluating patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Because it affords an excellent overall view of the heart, two-dimensional echocardiography, rather than M-mode echocardiography, is the imaging procedure of choice when dealing with coronary artery disease. This technique can be used to make the initial diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, diagnose complications, and assess prognosis following myocardial infarction. Additionally by combining this test with stress testing, latent coronary artery disease can be detected. Recovery of wall motion can be assessed following interventions such as thrombolysis or balloon angioplasty. Investigational and future uses include tissue characterization, which may allow detection of ischemic but potentially viable myocardium, direct coronary visualization for detection of atherosclerotic involvement of the proximal coronary arteries and myocardial contrast echocardiography. The latter technique allows visualization of perfusion by way of injecting contrast material into the coronary circulation. This has been demonstrated to be an accurate means of determining myocardial infarction size in an animal model and is currently being used in a number of centers in patients at the time of cardiac catheterization. In summary two-dimensional echocardiography currently allows assessment of patients with myocardial infarction from the time of their presentation through their convalescent period with respect to diagnosis, prognosis and presence of complications. Exercise echocardiography can diagnose latent coronary artery disease. The newer investigational techniques show promise for furthering our ability to evaluate patients with coronary artery disease using echocardiography.

Regional dysfunction by equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography: a clinicopathologic study evaluating the relation of degree of dysfunction to the presence and extent of myocardial infarction

The relation of degree of regional wall motion abnormality by equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography to the presence and mural extent of regional necrosis or scar at autopsy was evaluated in 23 autopsy patients who had a history of myocardial infarction and had equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography within 40 days of death. Of the 228 regions evaluated by equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography, 135 had abnormal regional wall motion and 102 (76%) of these 135 regions had evidence of myocardial infarction at autopsy. The overall sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of regional wall motion abnormality for regional necrosis or scar were 69, 59 and 76%, respectively. Of the 33 false positive regions, 20 (61%) had severe narrowing of the coronary artery supplying that region, 13 (39%) were adjacent to a region with a myocardial infarction and almost half (16 [48%]) were in the lateral wall. Eighty-three (36%) of the 228 regions were akinetic or dyskinetic, 52 (23%) were hypokinetic and 93 (41%) were normal. Sixty-three (76%) of the 83 akinetic/dyskinetic segments had transmural myocardial infarction at autopsy, 14 (17%) had nontransmural myocardial infarction and only 6 (7%) contained no necrosis or scar. In contrast, 14 (27%) of 52 hypokinetic segments had transmural myocardial infarction, 11 (21%) had nontransmural myocardial infarction and 27 (52%) were normal. Thus, the most severe regional wall motion abnormality (akinesia/dyskinesia) almost always indicates regional myocardial infarction which is usually transmural whereas less severe dysfunction (hypokinesia) is not necessarily associated with regional necrosis or scar. The severity of regional dysfunction must be considered if equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography is used to evaluate the presence and mural extent of myocardial infarction within a region.

Effect of prior myocardial infarction and extent and location of coronary disease on accuracy of exercise echocardiography

Exercise echocardiography is an emerging technique for the evaluation of patients with suspected coronary artery disease. In this study, rest and immediate postexercise echocardiograms were performed in 123 patients who were stratified on the basis of prior myocardial infarction and the number and location of coronary artery stenoses at cardiac catheterization. The location of wall motion abnormalities on rest and postexercise studies was correlated with the location of coronary artery stenoses. The sensitivity of exercise echocardiography for detecting coronary artery disease in patients with multivessel disease was 97% in those with and 86% in those without prior infarction. The corresponding sensitivity for patients with single vessel disease was 100% and 72%, respectively. Multivessel disease was present in 59 patients, but specifically identified as such in only 32 (54%). Normal rest and exercise echocardiograms were seen in 12 patients with coronary artery disease, 8 of whom had single vessel disease. It is concluded that the subjective analysis of the exercise echocardiogram accurately identifies the majority of patients with coronary artery disease. Its sensitivity is greatest in those with multivessel coronary disease. It is limited in those with single vessel coronary disease and in accurately identifying the subset of patients with multivessel disease.

Asymmetric distribution of left ventricular asynergy in coronary artery disease and its relation to coronary stenoses

In 100 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), the prevalence and severity of asynergy was determined for 9 left ventricular (LV) segments by both radionuclide and contrast angiography. The anterior, septal and lateral LV walls had significantly more prevalent and more severe asynergy in the medial segments than in the basal segments. In contrast, the inferior LV wall exhibited equally severe asynergy in both the medial and basal segments. In general, asynergy was most severe in the apical, medial septal, medial inferior and basal inferior LV segments. This asymmetric distribution of LV asynergy could not be explained by the distribution of occlusions or significant stenoses in the arterial tree, which were relatively uniformly distributed among the left anterior descending (32%), left circumflex (29%) and right (26%) coronary arteries. It is postulated instead that the asymmetric distribution of LV asynergy results from asymmetry of the coronary arterial tree supplying the left ventricle and that the prevalence of asynergy in an LV segment is directly related to its vascular distance from the coronary ostia. Unlike the relatively direct supply of the left anterior descending and circumflex arteries to the basal segments of the anterior, septal and lateral LV walls, the arterial supply to the basal inferior wall begins only after the right or dominant circumflex artery has traversed the length of the atrioventricular groove, significantly increasing its susceptibility to the pressure attenuation and occlusive jeopardy of more proximal stenoses.

Two-dimensional echocardiographic detection of left ventricular posterior wall motion abnormalities using an inferior angulation view

Two-dimensional echocardiography is frequently used to detect left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities. Modification of the apical 4-chamber view by inferior angulation of the transducer provides a superior image for detection of regional wall motion abnormalities of the LV posterior wall. The inferior angulation image was prospectively compared with the standard parasternal short-axis image for detection of posterior LV wall motion abnormalities as defined by contrast left ventriculography in 63 consecutive patients. Posterior wall akinesia was present on the contrast left ventriculogram in 22 of the 63 patients. The parasternal short-axis image was judged technically inadequate for interpretation in 7 patients (11%). The inferior angulation image was technically adequate for interpretation in all patients. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the inferior angulation image for detection of LV posterior wall motion abnormality was 91%, 80% and 84%, respectively, vs 67%, 71% and 70% for the parasternal short-axis image. The differences between the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the 2 views were not statistically significant. These observations indicate that the inferior angulation image provides a useful plane for routine echocardiographic analysis of regional LV wall motion either as a primary method to detect posterior wall motion abnormality or as a confirmatory view to document posterior wall motion abnormality.

Two-dimensional echocardiographic demonstration of restoration of normal wall motion after acute myocardial infarction

Left ventricular wall motion was assessed by 2-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography in 17 patients admitted with a first transmural acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The left ventricular myocardium was divided into 17 segments and wall motion was scored from 1 (dyskinesia) to 6 (hyperkinesia) in each segment. Reproducibility of the wall motion scoring system when assessed separately by 2 observers was 89% and when assessed by the same observer at different times, 91%. Seven patients had anterior and 10 inferior wall AMI on the electrocardiogram. Abnormal wall motion was present in 7.3 +/- 2.8 segments (mean +/- standard deviation) on the initial 2-D echocardiogram. On follow-up echocardiograms wall motion was unchanged in 7 patients. In 5 wall motion improved by at least 2 in 2 or more contiguous segments. In 5 other patients wall motion returned to normal in all segments that had shown an abnormality on the initial echocardiogram. These 5 patients (group A), compared with the 12 patients in whom wall motion did not return to normal in all segments (group B), showed fewer involved segments (5.4 +/- 1.7 vs 8 +/- 2.8) and a higher total wall motion score (76 +/- 4 vs 63 +/- 7) (p less than 0.05) on the initial echocardiogram. Duration from the time of the AMI to return of normal wall motion in group A varied from 2 to 8 weeks. Thus, wall motion abnormalities seen on 2-D echocardiography after transmural AMI often improve and wall motion returns to normal in some patients.

Prognostic significance of regional wall motion abnormality in patients with prior myocardial infarction: a prospective correlative study of two-dimensional echocardiography and angiography

In this pilot study of 50 consecutive patients with prior myocardial infarction, the results of two-dimensional echocardiographic and angiographic analysis of wall motion abnormalities were correlated, and their prognostic significance was determined. There was overall good agreement (88%) between the two methods. In general, the greater the left ventricular dysfunction, the worse was the prognosis. The 3-year survival was significantly reduced for patients with a left ventricular wall motion score index of 2.5 or greater (P = 0.024). These findings were essentially similar to the reduced survival rate associated with decreased angiographic ejection fractions (less than 40%). This study suggests that two-dimensional echocardiography, a noninvasive and relatively inexpensive technique, can provide prognostic information in patients with prior myocardial infarction.

Quantitation of regional left ventricular function by two-dimensional echocardiography in normals and patients with coronary artery disease

Regional endocardial motion and wall thickening of the left ventricle were quantitatively assessed in nine normal subjects and in 21 patients with coronary artery disease using two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and a computerized light pen system. Eight equal sectors of a cross-sectional image from parasternal short-axis, apical four-and two-chamber views were used for measuring sector area difference of endocardial motion and wall thickness between end diastole and end systole. In 13 patients with anterior wall motion abnormalities, area difference of wall thickening found by 2DE was abnormal in 12 of 13 (92%) patients, and only in 6 of 13 (46%) patients by endocardial motion. In 10 patients with dyskinetic regions in apex or anterior wall, dyskinesia by wall thickening was found in all patients, but only in 6 of 10 (60%) by endocardial motion. Thus, wall thickening assessed by 2DE is a more sensitive technique than analysis of endocardial motion in evaluating regional wall motion abnormalities in patients with coronary artery disease.

Regional left ventricular wall motion assessment: comparison of two-dimensional echocardiography and radionuclide angiography with contrast angiography in healed myocardial infarction

The diagnostic ability of radionuclide angiography (RNA) and 2-dimensional echocardiography (2-D echo) to assess regional left ventricular (LV) wall motion was compared with contrast angiography in 52 patients with healed myocardial infarction. After 5 patients were excluded for inadequate 2-D echocardiographic studies, the LV images of 47 patients obtained by all 3 techniques were divided into 7 segments for analysis. Both 2-D echo and RNA showed close agreement with contrast angiography in assessing normal vs abnormal wall motion in the anterobasal (91%, 91%), anterolateral (87%, 79%) and posterolateral segments (77%, 79%). The sensitivity in detecting wall motion abnormalities was highest for 2-D echo and RNA in the anterolateral (83%, 77%) and apical (95%, 84%) segments and lowest for the inferior segment (48%, 48%). Specificity of 2-D echo and RNA was high, ranging from 94% in the anterolateral segment to 71% in the septal segment for 2-D echo, and from 91% in the inferior segment to 81% in the posterobasal and septal segments for RNA. Major discrepancies with contrast angiography occurred more often in the posterobasal, posterolateral, inferior and septal LV segments. Thus, in comparison with contrast angiography, 2-D echo and RNA are reliable for detecting anterior and apical wall motion abnormalities, but relatively less sensitive for detecting wall motion abnormalities involving the inferior, posterobasal and posterolateral LV segments.

Pathoanatomic correlates of regional left ventricular wall motion assessed by equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography: a postmortem correlation

The pathoanatomic correlates of qualitative assessment of regional wall motion (RWM) on routine equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography (ERNA) were evaluated in 62 patients who had ERNA within 3 months before they died. Of 51 patients with abnormal RWM, 46 (90%) had gross myocardial lesions at autopsy. Of 11 patients with normal RWM, 9 (82%) had normal myocardium. Complete agreement of RWM with postmortem findings in all left ventricular segments occurred in 32% of the patients. Compared with postmortem findings, abnormal RWM on ERNA overestimated the number of macroscopically abnormal segments in 21% of the patients and underestimated in 47%. Of 372 segments analyzed, the overall sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of abnormal RWM on ERNA for detecting gross myocardial infarction or fibrosis was 73%, 75% and 83%, respectively. There were 35 false-positive segments (9%) (15 patients). In 27 of these segments (77%), severe stenosis of the coronary artery supplying the segment or electrocardiographic left bundle branch block could explain these findings. There were 61 false-negative segments (16%) (30 patients). In 55 of these segments (90%), either nontransmural infarction or masking by severe adjacent asynergy provided a potential explanation. Thus, qualitative analysis of RWM on routine ERNA correlates well with postmortem findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dissociation between two-dimensional echocardiographic left ventricular wall motion and myocardial salvage in early experimental acute myocardial infarction in dogs

This study was designed to evaluate whether the effects of coronary reperfusion with or without a pharmacologic agent could be detected in the early hours after infarction by 2-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography applied in a manner analogous to its clinical use. Proximal left anterior descending coronary occlusion was performed in 24 dogs, and the dogs were then randomized into 3 groups. In group 1 (n = 8), coronary occlusion was maintained for 6 hours; in group 2 (n = 8), coronary occlusion was maintained for 2 hours and was followed by 4 hours of reperfusion; in group 3 (n = 8), 2 hours of coronary occlusion were followed by 4 hours of reperfusion but methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg intravenously) was also administered 15 minutes after coronary occlusion. At 6 hours, 2-D images were obtained through the closed chest wall and the percentage of the left ventricular wall motion abnormalities was determined at 4 short-axis levels. The mass at risk was defined by in vivo Monastral blue injection and infarction by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. The mass of necrosis was 74 +/- 4% (mean +/- standard error of the mean) of the mass at risk in group 1 and was smaller in groups 2 and 3, 44 +/- 6% and 35 +/- 4%, respectively (p less than 0.01). Percent necrosis of the left ventricle was 22 +/- 3% in group 1, 15 +/- 3% in group 2 (difference not significant) and 10 +/- 2% in group 3 (p less than 0.05 vs group 1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Electrocardiographic changes after myocardial infarction as indicators of deranged regional left ventricular wall motion. A serial M mode echocardiographic mapping study

Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings were compared in 44 patients with a first transmural infarction. Each patient was investigated on days 1, 2, 10, and 360. The electrocardiogram was classified according to QRS and ST segment changes. Local left ventricular function was determined from mean systolic wall velocity measurements by an M mode echocardiographic mapping technique in 10 of 16 segments suitable also for electrocardiographic evaluation. Mean systolic wall velocity was corrected for differences in anterior and inferior wall motion. Wall motion was normal in segments without QRS or ST changes throughout the study. All segments with QRS or ST changes showed significantly lower corrected systolic wall velocity values during the acute stage. Segments with ST depression, alone or in combination with a minor Q wave, had corrected mean systolic wall velocity values similar to those of normal segments after one year. Segments with major Q waves and all segments with ST elevation showed reduced corrected mean systolic wall velocity values throughout the study. Segments with ST elevation, irrespective of Q waves, showed the most severely reduced wall motion with significantly lower corrected mean values than segments with minor or major Q waves without ST elevation on days 10 and 360. Thus when electrocardiograms are used for defining local left ventricular function, consideration must be given to the phase of illness, QRS morphology, and presence of ST segment elevation.

Improved two-dimensional echocardiographic technique for left ventricular aneurysm detection

In order to determine the sensitivity and reproducibility of a new two-dimensional echocardiographic technique for detecting left ventricular aneurysms, 16 patients suspected of having aneurysms were evaluated prospectively. Left ventricular angiography demonstrated aneurysms in 15 of the 16 patients. All 15 were detected by two-dimensional echocardiography but three were identified only in a view rotated 45 degrees clockwise from the apical four-chamber view. The analysis of 16 wall segments for each patient showed excellent agreement between two observers. Therefore, two-dimensional echocardiography, utilizing four apical views 45 degrees apart, is reliable and reproducible for the detection of left ventricular aneurysms.