[Effects of video information in patients undergoing coronary angiography]. / Intérêt d'un film d'informations pour les patients avant coronarographie.

BACKGROUND: informed consent is a fundamental and legal obligation for each interventional cardiologist. The effect of consent form describing risks of invasive procedure on anxiety is controversial. This trial was aimed to assess the added value of video information to the standard informed consent process. METHODS: 200 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled. The first one hundred were assigned to conventional education conducted by the physician (no video group) and the second one hundred had consent obtained in the conventional manner assisted by video information (video group). The outcome variables for this comparison consisted of a standard anxiety score (Spielberger Statement Anxiety Inventory questionnary) plus hemodynamics measurements of heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure obtained at baseline and immediately after written informed consent In addition, before discharge, patients graded the tolerability and satisfaction on a 4-point scale. RESULTS: The groups were similar with regard to their baseline characteristics and anxity score (37+23 vs 37+23). Patients who had not had prior experience of catheterization had higher baseline anxiety than those who had prior angiography (45 + 22 vs 31 + 20; p = 0.027). Patients who watched the video were significantly less anxious after informed consent (28 + 21 vs 34 + 22; p = 0.048) and had a significantly lower heart rate (65 + 10 vs 71 + 12; p = 0.03). The benefits of video information were especially prominent in those with higher anxiety scores at baseline (score after 45 + 24 vs 57 + 26; p = 0.046). Tolerability were higher in the video group compared with no video group (98% vs 86%; p = 0.003). Finally, satisfaction of information for informed consent process was higher in video group than in no video group (99% vs 76%; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: a video information decreased anxiety level after written informed consent and improved tolerability and satisfaction scales in patients undergoing coronary angiography. The most likely to benefit from video information are patients with higher anxiety level at baseline. Beneficial effect on informed refusal should be investigated in larger population.

[Drug eluting stents: from evidence based medicine to clinical practice]. / Les stents a elution de médicaments: preuves, incertitudes et pratiques.

Drug eluting stents have been developed in order to reduce in-stent restenosis observed with a 20 to 40% rate in bare-stents. Neoinitimal smooth muscular cells proliferation have been characterized as the corner stone of in-stent restenosis. Consequently, many anti-mitotic and anti-inflammatory drugs have been evaluated in a new stent generation, so called coated stents or drug eluting stents. Three major components must be considered to evaluate the beneficial effects: the bare-stent, the drug, and the deliverance system, most usually a polymer. For the present, sirolimus eluting stent and paclitaxel eluting stent are available in the market with the european conformity label considering evidence based medicine established in randomized trials. Both stents have been shown to reduce in-stent restenosis incidence to less than 7%. Long-term follow-up still remain expected and would give answers to two safety queries: what is about the incidence of late stent thrombosis, what is about mal-apposition consequences in clinical feature. Utilization of drug eluting stent in clinical practice must considered materials with european conformity and must applied French society of cardiology guidelines restricting implantation to patients who meet high-risk restenosis criteria. Medicoeconomic approach must be considered beneficial at the present only in patients with high restenosis risk. Long-term antiplatelet regimen of aspirin and clopidogrel must be considered to avoid late stent thrombosis.

[Management of acute coronary syndromes in a new French coronary intensive care unit. The first four years of activity in the GRACE registry (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events)]. / Evaluation des quatre premières années d'activité d'une unité de soins intensifs cardiologiques pour la prise en charge des syndromes coronaires aigus comparativement aux données régionales du registre GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events).

UNLABELLED: The GRACE registry provides the opportunity to analyse management of acute coronary syndromes in the real word and the impact of hospital characteristics. In this setting, we compare the activity of a new coronary intensive care unit with regional data. METHODS: From January 2000 to December 2003, 376 eligible patients were involved (22% of regional inclusion). GRACE standard diagnosis were the following, for our centrer (for the cluster): ST elevation myocardial infarction 28% (37%), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction 32% (31%), unstable angina 33% (24%). Demographic characteristics were similar with a median age of 64 (vs 66) and a large majority of male (74 vs 81%). Medical history and cardiovascular risk factors were comparable. Predictors of hospital mortality were observed at the same rate: cardiogenic shock (3 vs 3%), congestive heart failure > Killip 2 (4 vs 4%), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) lower than 40% (17 vs 16%), recurrent ischemic symptoms (8 vs 8%). Coronary artery bypass grafts were required in 5% (vs 2%). RESULTS: Drugs prescription rates were similar: aspirin at admission (95%) and at discharge (95%), betablocker at admission (70%) and at discharge (85%), statin at admission (< 30% in 2000, > 60% in 2003) and at discharge (< 60% in 2000 and > 80% in 2003), ticlopidin-clopidogrel at admission (< 20% in 2000 and > 40% in 2003), ACE inhibitor for LVEF < 40%, intravenous GPIIblIIa, and low molecular weight heparin (90%). Cardiac catheterisation (90%) and percutaneous coronary interventions (80%) were performed at the same rates in our center and in the cluster. Hospital death was similar (2 vs 4%). Discharge status was home for a large majority of patients (63 vs 76%). The median length of stay was five days and shorter than three days for patients with unstable angina. CONCLUSION: Based on GRACE registry data, the present evaluation revealed that our new center offered evidence-based medical and interventional therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes at the same level than experienced institutions with similar results for hospital death and length of stay.

[Comparison of the radial and femoral arterial approaches for coronary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarction]. / Comparaison de la voie radiale et de la voie fémorale dans l'angioplastie coronaire à la phase aiguë de l'infarctus du myocarde.

AIM: As compared to the femoral approach, the use of radial arterial access has been demonstrated to reduce the incidence of access site bleeding complications in staged procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes comparing radial and femoral approaches in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction with emergency angioplasty. METHODS: Between September 1999 and December 2002, we prospectively enrolled 162 consecutive patients undergoing primary angioplasty with abciximab (n=127) or rescue angioplasty after thrombolysis failure (n=35) comparing in a non-randomized plan radial (n=87) and femoral (n=75) access. RESULTS: Cannulation time (from patient arrival at the catheterization laboratory to the effective placement of arterial sheath) and procedural time was not significantly different in radial and femoral groups (respectively 8.5 +/- 5.2 vs 9.0 +/- 5.8 minutes, p=0.81, and 42 +/- 28 vs 44 +/- 27 min, p=0.74). Nevertheless, time of radiation (23.1 +/- 11 min vs 16.5 +/- 10.9 min; p=0.01) and dose-area product (229 +/- 133 vs 151 +/- 86 Gy.cm2, p=0.01) were significantly higher in the radial group. Angiographic success rate is comparable in both groups. Freedom from ischemic recurrent events at 1-month follow-up occurred in 84 (96%) and 69 (92%) patients in the radial and femoral groups, respectively (p=0.12). There were no major access site bleeding complications in the radial group, as opposed to six (8%) in the femoral group (p=0.01) all requiring transfusions and surgical repair necessary in four. Uncomplicated clinical course occurred in 83 (92%) of patients in the radial group and 65 (85%) in the femoral group (p=0.03). Total hospital length of stay was significantly higher in the femoral group (5.9 +/- 2.1 days vs 3.5 +/- 1.2 days; p=0.009). CONCLUSION: In patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with coronary angioplasty, the transradial access is efficacious with fewer major access site complications than transfemoral access. Transradial approach produces a shorter length of stay, as compared to the transfemoral approach although with longer times of radiation and higher dose area-product.

[Results of heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation in octogenarians]. / Résultats de la chirurgie cardiaque avec circulation extracorporelle chez l'octogénaire.

Cardiac surgery in the octogenarians is increasing in the industrialized countries and therefore represents a growing population. In order to better define the benefits of cardiac surgery in this population, we reviewed all consecutive octogenarians patients operated during the last 10 years. Out of 3,409 patients operated between January 1990 and December 1999, we identified 215 patients (6.3%) aged 80 years or more. Median age was 82.4 +/- 2.45 years, and 52.6% were males. Preoperatively, 52% were in New York Heart Association functional class II, 19.3% in class III, and 28.3% in class IV, with a mean Euroscore score of 7.5 +/- 2.6. Among them, 113 patients (52.5%) had isolated aortic valve replacement, 66 patients (30.6%) had isolated coronary artery bypass graft, 22 patients (10.2%) had aortic valve replacement combined with CABG, and 14 patients (6.5%) had mitral valve operation. The overall hospital mortality was 8%, and multivariate analysis revealed as risk factor for mortality aortic valve replacement combined with coronary artery bypass graft. Median follow up was 36.7 months, with 86% survival at 1 year, 59% at 5 years, and 40% at 7 years. Survival was reduced when aortic valve was combined with revascularisation. Quality of life was improved in 72% of patients. We conclude that for selected octogenarians cardiac surgery can be performed with an acceptable mortality and improves both survival and quality of life.

Factors influencing fluoroscopy time and dose-area product values during ad hoc one-vessel percutaneous coronary angioplasty.

X-ray exposure during radiologically guided interventional procedures may have some deleterious effects. The aim of our study was to analyse the factors affecting patient dose during percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA). We evaluated radiation dose during coronary angiography followed by one-vessel PTCA in 402 consecutive patients who were treated by three experienced physicians using both femoral and radial techniques. Fluoroscopy time (t) and patient dose measured by a dose-area product (DAP) meter were recorded. A good correlation was observed between t and the DAP (r=0.78, p<0.001). To assess the factors affecting radiation exposure, we studied the differences between operators, arterial catheterization access and stenting strategy. Median (25th to 75th percentiles) values for t were 19 (13 to 26) min and for DAP were 191 (145 to 256) Gy cm(2) for operator 3 compared with t=12 (9 to 18) min and DAP=137 (91 to 208) Gy cm(2) for operator 2 (p<0.005 versus operator 3) and t=13 (9 to 17) min, and DAP=134 (93 to 190) Gy cm(2) for operator 1 (p<0.001 versus operator 3). Differences between the radial and the femoral techniques were: t=17 (13 to 24) min versus 12 (8 to 17) min, (p<0.001) and DAP=175 (128 to 246) Gy cm(2) versus 138 (93 to 197) Gy cm(2), (p<0.001). In comparison with stenting without pre-dilation, direct stenting significantly reduced t and DAP [t=12 (9 to 16) min versus 16 (11 to 22) min, (p<0.001) and DAP=130 (95 to 186) Gy cm(2) versus 163 (119 to 230) Gy cm(2), respectively, (p<0.01)]. Radiation exposure to patients and staff are strongly dependent on operators, stenting strategy and the arterial access chosen for ad hoc one-vessel PTCA.

New insights into septal anterior wall motion velocities at end-systole in normal and hypertrophied left ventricles.

AIMS: It was two-fold (1) to define tissue Doppler echocardiographic characteristics of the end-systolic septal anterior motion: passive due to heart translation, or active motion free of translational effects, substantiated by a myocardial velocity gradient. (2) to specify the temporal features of this septal anterior motion on normal and hypertrophied left ventricles since it occurs while the posterior wall contracts during late ejection. METHODS AND RESULTS: Myocardial velocity gradient was calculated during the anterior motion in simultaneously colour M-mode imaged septal and posterior walls of 21 controls (49+/-12 years) and 17 patients (49+/-13 years) with left ventricle hypertrophy. Timings of septal motion were compared with flow and posterior wall motion. In controls, septal anterior motion started prior to, and overlapped the end of subaortic flow and that of the posterior wall anterior motion. Myocardial velocity gradient was found, exceeding that at the posterior wall (2.5+/-1.6 vs 0.9+/-0.5s(-1), P=0.001). In patients, septal myocardial velocity gradient was lower than in controls (1.2+/-1.04 s(-1)P=0.006). The anterior motion had a longer duration than in controls (75+/-37 vs 50+/-17ms, P=0.003). Myocardial velocity gradient and duration were correlated with septal thickness (P=<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The septal anterior motion was active. Patients showed a decreased myocardial velocity gradient, while wall asynchrony increased. Unusual higher septal than posterior wall systolic velocities at tissue Doppler echocardiography may suggest a relaxation pattern, in spite of its end-systolic onset.

[Comparison between radial and femoral approaches in ad hoc coronary angioplasty]. / Comparaison de la voie radiale et de la voie fémorale dans l'angioplastie coronaire ad hoc.

Between September 1999 and June 2001, 591 patients required ad hoc coronary angioplasty. The authors compared the group of patients in whom the approach of first intent was radial (n = 328, 55%) with those in whom the femoral approach had been used (n = 263), in terms of immediate local (haematoma or thrombosis requiring surgical intervention or transfusion) and general complications (myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident), and major adverse cardiovascular events (infarction, angioplasty, bypass and death) at 1 year. The dose of ionising radiation during the procedures was also compared prospectively. The conversion rate from the radial (R) to the humeral or femoral (F) approach was 10%. The angioplasty, stenting, and stenting without dilatation failure rates were identical in the two groups (5% versus 5%, 0.6% versus 1.9%, 3% versus 4%, respectively). The average irradiation time was greater in the R group than in the F group (23 +/- 12 min vs 17 +/- 4 min, p < 0.001) as was the irradiation per surface unit (242 +/- 137 Gy.cm2 vs 185 +/- 117 Gy.cm2, p < 0.001). The immediate complication rate was comparable in the two groups (2.5% in group R vs 3.6% in group F) as was the major adverse cardiovascular event rate at 1 year (13% in both groups). The authors observed the same rate of immediate complications and late adverse cardiac events in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty followed by immediate angioplasty by the radial or femoral approaches with an acceptable conversion rate from the radial to the femoral approach. The procedures by the radial approach seem to be associated with a greater time and dosage of ionising radiation.

[Iatrogenic lesions of the left main coronary artery]. / Lésions iatrogéniques du tronc commun coronaire gauche.

Reoccurrence of ischemic events several months after a percutaneous transcutaneous coronary angioplasty is usually due to a restenosis. Coronary angiography rarely shows a new stenosis on another site or on the left main coronary artery. In this series, we report 5 cases of left main coronary artery stenosis which have occurred from 3 to 12 months after a prior percutaneous angioplasty. This phenomenon which has previously been described after direct cannulation of the coronaries ostia during aortic valve replacement in the 70'. This complication is related to intimal damage caused by traumatic manipulation of the left main, which can be either already minimally altered or normal. This complication is rare after percutaneous transcutaneous coronary angioplasty (0.2-1.7%) according to various series. We compare our cases to the published cases in the literature.

[Doppler tissue imaging in the assessment of dilated cardiomyopathy]. / Doppler tissulaire myocardique dans l'évaluation des cardiomyopathies dilatées.

Doppler myocardial tissue imaging is a recent technique of objective assessment of wall motion by real time measurement of intra-myocardial velocities. This technique is being evaluated in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Doppler myocardial tissue imaging has been used for the quantification of dobutamine stress echocardiography, for the detection of an ischaemic aetiology in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and for non-invasive estimation of left ventricular filling pressures. At the present time, the recordings have to be analysed a posteriori and only a small number of centres have acquired expertise of these techniques at rest or during stress. Standardisation of a posteriori procedures of image processing and validation of pertinent parameters have yet to be established in this pathology.

Feasibility, safety, cost-effectiveness and 1 year follow-up of coronary stenting without predilation: a matched comparison with the standard approach.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the feasibility, safety, procedural cost-effectiveness, radiation dose and time and 1-year target vessel revascularization rate of direct unprotected mounted stenting without previous balloon dilatation (DS) in native coronary artery lesions. METHODS: DS was attempted in 119 patients; 39 had a recent myocardial infarction, 62 had unstable angina, and 18 had stable angina. The clinical follow-up was obtained at 14+/-5 months (range 6 to 24 months). These results were compared with those for a consecutive group of 160 patients matched for type and length of lesions and who had a stent only if the post-balloon residual stenosis was >30%. RESULTS: The feasibility of DS was 112/119 (94%). The number of inflations, the length of the stent/length of the lesion ratio, the time and the dose of radiation were dramatically lower in the DS group (P<0.001). DS conferred a slight reduction in procedure-related cost [$820+/-157 for DS vs. 894+/-427 for standard dilatation (SD) per patient]. The 1-year target vessel revascularization rate was similar in both groups [nine (8%) for DS vs. 17 (11%) patients for SD, ns]. CONCLUSIONS: DS is feasible and safe in selected coronary lesions. This method provides a low rate of repeat revascularization and reduces the time and the dose of radiation compared with the standard approach.

[Coronary subclavian steal syndrome after internal mammary artery bypass grafting. A cause of severe postoperative recurrent myocardial ischemia]. / Syndrome de vol coronaire sous-clavier après pontage mammaire interne gauche sur l'artère interventriculaire antérieure. Une cause d'ischémie myocardique résiduelle sévère postopératoire.

A 65-year-old underwent a triple bypass: internal artery mammary-descending coronary artery, aorta diagonal-lateral coronary (sequential). Three weeks later he started to have severe angina pectoris with ST depression in anterior EKG leads. A left transradial coronary angiography was performed. The examination showed a total occlusion of the left subclavian artery 2 cm after the aortic arch and a retrograde flow in the internal mammary artery (IMA). Via transfemoral approach, angiography showed the patency of the aorto-veinous sequential graft and a retrograde flow through anastomosis in the left mammary artery. The patient underwent a reimplantation of the IMA on the brachiocephalic artery. One month later the patient is doing well without chest pain. A coronary subclavian steal syndrome should be suspected in case of recurrent ischaemia after IMA bypass, particularly if there is more than 20 mmHg systolic pressure differential between the arms. Left transradial approach achieved diagnostic in case of total left subclavian artery occlusion.

Concordance between dobutamine Doppler tissue imaging echocardiography and rest reinjection thallium-201 tomography in dysfunctional hypoperfused myocardium.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency of the new technique colour Doppler tissue imaging (DTI) by studying the concordance between dobutamine DTI, standard grey scale echocardiography (SE), and rest-reinjection TI-201 tomography (TI) in dysfunctional myocardium. PATIENTS: 23 patients with chronic wall motion abnormalities and proven coronary artery disease (> 70% diameter stenosis of at least one major coronary artery at angiogram). METHODS: The contractile reserve and the resting perfusion characteristics of dysfunctional myocardial segments were assessed with low dose dobutamine SE and/or DTI (2.5 up to 20 gamma/kg/min) and TI on a semiquantitative basis. The DTI or SE data were separately compared with TI, on the basis of a 13 segment ventricular model. The resulting score of combined DTI and SE was also compared with TI. Finally the results obtained from DTI were compared with SE. RESULTS: A total of 142 severely hypokinetic or akinetic segments were visualised. The viability study was feasible in 127 (89%) and 121 (85%) segments with DTI and SE, respectively. TI detected viability more frequently than DTI (84 v 61, p < 0.001) and SE (80 v 50, p < 0.001). However, as many viable segments were detected with combined DTI and SE as with TI (78 v 84, NS). The kappa values between TI and SE, DTI or combined SE and DTI were 0.38, 0.45, and 0.57, respectively, and increased to 0.52 and 0.76, respectively, for SE and DTI versus TI when mid-anterior and mid-inferior segments only were considered. The kappa value between SE and DTI was 0.34. CONCLUSIONS: DTI is a helpful adjunct to SE, when using low dose dobutamine. This combination revealed as many viable segments as TI and showed a better agreement than DTI or SE alone for the assessment of myocardial viable segments evidenced by TI.

[Occlusion of a coronary endoprosthesis after a negative stress test]. / Occlusion d'endoprothèse coronaire au décours d'une épreuve d'effort négative.

The frequency of early occlusion of coronary stents has fallen with the use of a powerful association of platelet antiaggregants (ticlopidine and aspirin) in the first month. The authors report the case of coronary stent occlusion after a negative exercise stress test, 11 days after implantation in a centre of cardiac rehabilitation. According to the literature, this type of complication would appear to be rare and related to the small size of the stent and the conditions of implantation (acute phase). It would be useful to compile a registry of complications related to coronary angioplasty during rehabilitation to determine their prevalence and, if necessary, change the protocols of physical training of these patients.

[Iatrogenic acute renal failure caused by overdosage of flecainide acetate]. / Insuffisance rénale aiguë iatrogène à l'origine d'un surdosage en acétate de flécaïnide.

BACKGROUND: Rapid degradation of renal function may occur in patients given drug regimens combining a converting enzyme inhibitor, a diuretic and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. CASE REPORT: A patient given flecainide and an enalapril /hydrochlorothiazide combination in a well-tolerated long-term regimen suddenly developed acute renal failure when a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug was introduced leading to an overdose of the anti-arrhythmic drug. DISCUSSION: A poor understanding of the elimination routes for anti-arrhythmic drugs and the risks involved when combined with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs modifying glomerular hemodynamics can lead to dangerous prescriptions and life-threatening situations in patients on multiple drug regimens.

[Doppler tissue imaging of pre-ejection left ventricular wall dynamics in normal subjects]. / Dynamique pariétale pré-éjectionnelle du ventricule gauche par imagerie doppler tissulaire. Description chez le sujet normal.

Pre-ejectional left ventricular wall motion has been demonstrated clinically by angiography. Intramyocardial wall velocities generated by cardiac contraction may be measured by Doppler tissue imaging. The aim of this study was to detect pre-ejectional wall motion and to analyse its sequencer. A long axis M Mode with simultaneous septal and posterior wall imaging was performed in 11 normal subjects (age 37 +/- 15 years) with velocity analysis between the electrocardiographic Q wave and the onset of ejection by digitised analysis between the electrocardiographic Q wave and the onset of ejection by digitised images with automatic velocity extraction (3.8 ms) along a horizontal subendocardial line. The total duration of the pre-ejectional periods in conventional and Doppler tissue imaging are compared. Oscillatory velocimetric appearances with alternate colours of adjacent bands in each wall and a mirror image between walls was observed. The mean and peak velocities of the first four bands were significantly different between the walls (p < 0.001) as were the absolute values between bands 2 (p < 0.02) and 3 (p < 0.006). The duration of band 2, related to motion mainly towards the center of the ventricular chamber exceeded that of the adjacent bands (septum p < 0.02, posterior wall p < 0.001). The correlation coefficient for total duration of the pre-ejectional period between Doppler tissue imaging and conventional Doppler was 0.83, p < 0.05 for the interventricular septum and 0.76, p < 0.04 for the posterior was. The authors conclude that regional pre-ejectional wall motion can be recorded. During isovolumic contraction, there is motion predominantly towards the center of the left ventricular chamber of the two walls, confirming previous angiographic findings. Its timing suggests that wall motion proceeds the increase in ventricular pressure.

Right and left isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals compared in patients by means of a single-pulsed Doppler method.

Right and left isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals measurements were obtained as follows: from the peak R wave on the electrocardiogram to either the mitral or the tricuspid pulsed Doppler flow trace onset minus the R to end-ejection zero flow crossing of the subaortic (left side) or pulmonary (right side) D flow trace time interval. A ratio was calculated as a percent difference duration between both isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals. The aim was to compare isovolumic ventricular relaxation time interval values in 42 healthy controls and to study the changes induced by heart diseases in 27 patients with (1) controlled hypertension without left ventricular hypertrophy, (2) hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and (3) Cor pulmonale. Mean values of isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals significantly differed at paired and unpaired studies, with right isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals shorter than those of the left side in all groups (p < 0.001) except for patients with Cor pulmonale. Isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals did not correlate with heart rate and moderately correlated with left ventricular mass and age. No significant difference was found between healthy controls and patients with controlled hypertension. Significant changes were found in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Cor pulmonale versus healthy controls for both isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals. However, significant changes in the ratio were only found in patients with Cor pulmonale (p < 0.005) because of abnormal similar values for both isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals. This Doppler method enabled, for the first time, serial comparison of isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals with a homologous method. Both isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals significantly lengthened with age and with left ventricular indexed mass, but their ratio remained insignificantly changed except for patients with Cor pulmonale. The concomitant right and left isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals lengthening in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Cor pulmonale suggests interdependence of both ventricles through the septum. This makes recommendable systematic comparison of both sides. The calculation of a ratio, free from the effect of factors intervening on isovolumic ventricular relaxation time intervals, may, in addition, be of diagnostic help.

Preejectional left ventricular wall motion in normal subjects using Doppler tissue imaging and correlation with ejection fraction.

Relations have been demonstrated between the preejection period (PEP) and indexes of left ventricular (LV) systolic function. Doppler tissue M-mode imaging has the capability to measure wall velocities and to display as colored strips within the walls velocity reversals representing changes in direction of wall motion. To document LV preejectional wall motions, this procedure was performed on 16 normal subjects with a twofold purpose: to measure septal and posterior preejectional intramyocardial velocities and durations and to correlate preejectional parameters with LV ejection fraction (LVEF). Parasternal M-mode images of simultaneously recorded walls were digitized. Subendocardial wall velocities were measured every 3.8 ms from the Q wave to the onset of ejection. Total duration measured from Doppler tissue and flow traces was compared in 10 subjects. PEP total duration did not differ between both walls or techniques. Several adjacent velocity reversals with mirror signs in opposite walls were substantiated by 2 to 5 colored strips. Colored strips corresponding to the same sign in each wall had a progressively damped velocity amplitude (septum 19 +/- 8, -21 +/- 10, 15 +/- 7, -8 +/- 5, 4 +/- 2 mm/s; posterior wall -13 +/- 16, 11 +/- 7, -8 +/- 5, 9 +/- 6, -2 mm/s). Peak velocity values of opposite signs significantly differed between both walls (p <0.0001). Absolute values differed only for colored strips 2 and 3 (p <0.009). Strip 2 featured a simultaneous early inward motion of both walls toward the LV cavity with significantly prolonged duration (p <0.0001). The only positive correlation with LVEF was found for peak velocities of strip 2 in the posterior wall (r = 0.71, p <0.006). Thus, the posterior wall and its inward motion velocities have potential for future clinical implications.