Can the Extent of Change of the Left Ventricular Doppler Inflow Pattern During the Valsalva Maneuver Predict an Elevated Left Ventricular End-Diastolic Pressure?

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether analysis of changes in the transmitral filling pattern during the Valsalva maneuver improves the diagnostic accuracy to noninvasively detect an elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP). METHODS: We prospectively compared the diagnostic accuracy of the mitral flow velocity indexes at baseline with those obtained during the Valsalva maneuver to detect an elevated LVEDP in 50 patients with coronary artery disease. RESULTS: Moderate correlations were found between LVEDP (mean, 11.

In vitro validation of volumetric blood flow measurement using Doppler flow wire.

Determination of any volumetric blood flow requires assessment of mean blood flow velocity and vessel cross-sectional area. For evaluation of coronary blood flow and flow reserve, however, assessment of average peak velocity alone is widely used, but changes in velocity profile and vessel area are not taken into account. We studied the feasibility of a new method for calculation of volumetric blood flow by Doppler power using a Doppler flow wire.

Impact of atropine injection on heart rate response during treadmill exercise echocardiography: a double-blind randomized pilot study.

We evaluated the effect of atropine on the heart rate (HR) response during treadmill exercise echocardiography. A potential limitation of treadmill exercise echocardiography is the requirement for postexercise imaging. Rapid recovery of HR and wall motion abnormalities may decrease test sensitivity.

Systolic and diastolic function with alternate and combined site pacing in the right ventricle.

Unlabelled: We hypothesized that pacing at two ventricular sites simultaneously would activate the myocardium more rapidly and improve ventricular function. We studied the effect of pacing at the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) and the RV apex (RVA) on systolic and diastolic function. In 14 patients with a reduced systolic ejection fraction < 40% (mean EF 32% +/- 4%) we measured RV pressures, left ventricular pressures, EF, cardiac output, peak dP/dt, peak negative dP/dt, and the time constant of relaxation, Tau, during intrinsic rhythm, atrial pacing and DVI pacing at the RVA, the RVOT, and both RV sites combined in random order.